Where are mangoes grown in Australia?
Mangoes are grown in northern Australia, with major crops in the Northern Territory around Darwin and Katherine, and in Queensland around Bowen, Mareeba and Bundaberg. Smaller crops grow in Western Australia.
The most famous Australian variety is the Kensington Pride, also known as the Bowen mango. It is believed to have arrived on ships in the 1800s and is known for its sweet flavor and strong aroma.
Other popular varieties include R2E2, Calypso, Honey Gold and Keitt. Each has a slightly different shape, color and season, which helps extend the time mangoes are available in shops.
The mango season
The harvest begins in the Northern Territory around September and moves south into Queensland and New South Wales through spring and summer. For many Australians, mangoes are a symbol of summer and Christmas.
The first tray of the season is often auctioned for charity at the Brisbane or Sydney markets, sometimes selling for tens of thousands of dollars. This tradition attracts plenty of media attention.
Australia exports mangoes to countries in Asia and the Middle East, as well as to the United States and New Zealand. Bowen has a Big Mango statue celebrating its mango heritage.
Did You Know?
Mangoes are highly perishable, so they are picked when mature but still firm and ripened later.