Arabic version: تراجع توقعات مانغو الإقليم الشمالي مع تصدّر كاثرين

According to ABC News, the Northern Territory mango crop forecast is 3.7 million trays this year, with unusual weather and sporadic flowering reducing yields, particularly around Darwin. The Katherine region is forecast to produce 1.9 million trays, compared with 1.8 million trays from Darwin.

NT Mango Industry Association president Leo Skliros said Darwin’s forecast was about 500,000 trays below last year, largely because of strange weather and the late end to a large wet season. He said flowering had been patchy and sporadic, while Katherine was looking stronger due to large numbers of Calypso mangoes grown there. He said weather appeared to affect the Kensington Pride variety more.

Mr Skliros said Darwin’s forecast was probably its lowest in 15 to 20 years. Katherine is on track to produce more mangoes than Darwin for the first time. Some Darwin orchards have completed harvesting but could resume in November if later fruit develops sufficiently, although Mr Skliros said much of that fruit was unlikely to be harvested.

Grower Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew described the season as unlike any she had seen in 35 years of growing mangoes. She said some trees had needed to be picked five times, increasing harvesting costs. Ms Ruchkaew estimated her crop was down 30 per cent on last year and said she had heard of farms with yields down 50 to 60 per cent.

Ms Ruchkaew said late flowering in August had produced fruit that could be ready for picking in late November. She said harvesting that fruit would depend on quality, rain and returns. Mango prices have started to ease as the NT harvest increases, but Sydney Markets reported quality Kensington Pride mangoes wholesaling for $45 to $50 a tray this week. Ms Ruchkaew said demand remained strong, while Kensington Pride mangoes in a major Darwin supermarket were selling for $3 each.