Companies teaming up to explore mango commercial opportunities

Fruit genetics and variety licensing company Sun World International and fresh produce producer and distributor Mission Produce are teaming up to explore commercial opportunities in mangoes.

The partnership will focus on identifying innovative commercially viable varieties that benefit growers, retailers and consumers in a category that has long been defined by inconsistent eating quality and limited variety differentiation, according to a news release.

The collaboration will combine Sun World’s decades of experience in plant breeding, global evaluation and variety commercialization with Mission Produce’s supply chain expertise, grower relationships and market reach across production regions, including Mexico, Brazil, Peru, according to the release.

“Mangoes are a category full of potential, and most people in the industry know there’s a real opportunity to innovate to bring a great eating experience every time,” Sun World International president and CEO Bernardo Calvo said in the release. “As we continue to build our mango portfolio — from our earliest commercial introductions through late-season selections — we see real value in working alongside partners like Mission.”

Following its acquisition of the world’s largest mango breeding program through the Biogold transaction, Sun World has expanded its pipeline and commercial offerings, according to the release. The company now has three commercial mango varieties available for licensing in addition to nine advanced selections currently undergoing evaluation across international growing regions and nearly 600 new potential varieties in early-stage assessment.

Officially launched at Fruit Logistica earlier this year, Sun World’s mango program is designed to give growers access to differentiated, proprietary genetics with agronomic performance to meet market demand.

Mission is a leading global supplier of avocados with integrated operations, including value-added services such as ripening, packaging, regional distribution and logistics. The company has invested significantly in mango development in recent years, including targeted retail programs, according to the release. 

“We see a significant opportunity to grow the mango category by delivering a more consistent, premium eating experience to consumers around the world,” said John Pawlowski, Mission Produce president and chief operating officer. “This collaboration builds on the strong foundation we’ve established in mangos and brings together Sun World’s leadership in variety innovation with Mission’s global sourcing, vertical integration and ripening expertise. 

“Together, we can accelerate progress toward a more reliable, high-quality experience for consumers.”  

In January, Mission acquired California produce company Calavo Growers.