Projects
Tropical fruits like mangoes are becoming more popular in the U.S., partly due to immigration from countries where these fruits are common, and partly because Americans are developing broader tastes. However, many of the mangoes currently available are of lower quality, mainly because they undergo treatments to meet import regulations. This creates a big opportunity for U.S. farmers to grow and sell high-quality mangoes, which are not only tasty but also offer health benefits.
American farmers, including those who grow citrus and avocados, are facing challenges from diseases and changing consumer preferences. These farmers could benefit from growing premium mango varieties, which are better in taste, have good field performance, and offer health advantages. However, there isn’t enough scientific information to help identify the best mango varieties to grow in the U.S., which makes it risky for producers.
Mango consumption in the U.S. has increased significantly, with per capita consumption rising by nearly 50% from 2000 to 2015. The U.S. imports most of its mangoes from Mexico, but these imports often lose quality due to quarantine treatments like heat or irradiation. U.S. growers don’t need to use these treatments, which could result in better-quality mangoes.
Despite the potential for growing mangoes in places like Florida, California, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, this capacity is underutilized. There’s a strong demand for flavorful, healthy mangoes, and people are willing to pay more for better-tasting food. Therefore, our project aims to help farmers grow premium mango varieties that meet this demand.
According to a survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation, flavor is the top factor influencing food and beverage purchases, with consumers willing to pay more for better-tasting products. Additionally, 96% of consumers look for health benefits in the foods they eat. This highlights the importance of growing mango varieties that are both flavorful and nutritious.
Our project’s long-term goal is to develop a “multi-omics” platform that combines consumer insights with advanced scientific techniques to produce mango varieties that meet these flavor and health expectations on a large scale. We aim to help U.S. farmers meet the rising demand for specialty fruits in the U.S. by increasing mango production and expanding consumption.
The project has three main goals:
- Evaluate different mango varieties for their performance in the field, flavor, and consumer preferences.
- Study the genetics of mango flavor to understand which genes are responsible for the flavors that consumers prefer, using advanced scientific methods called "Omics."
- Find natural sweeteners/sweetness enhancers in mangoes to provide options for consumers who want fruits with enhanced sweetness but lower sugar content.