I don’t often get as excited as I am about the KP mangoes we have in store this week. Unbelievably, they are from Mildura which is in Victoria. The Ryan family bought what was mostly a wine grape and citrus orchard a decade ago, and have increased the plantings and focused on mangoes, both KPs (there were a few there already) and now Honey Golds, as well as avocados. These mangoes flower at a very similar but slightly later time than their Northern (Territory and QLD) cousins and just like the Coffs bananas, they hang on the trees for much longer and the flavour intensifies as this fruit matures more slowly. Extreme cold in winter (minus 5) to extreme heat in summer (as high as 45) makes growing mangoes in this very different location a real challenge. All they do is get better and better to eat. Not cheap just sensational to eat, totally out of season, truly a tribute to the ingenuity of our farming community to have the foresight and courage to do this. We are the beneficiaries, enjoy!
HOW TO PICK
Use your nose - look for a fragrant tropical fruity aroma. Ripe mangoes should have a full colour and will give slightly to the touch. Avoid very soft or bruised fruit.
HOW TO STORE
Unripe mangoes should be stored out of direct sun at room temp for a few days until ripe. Once ripe, a mango should last in your fruit bowl for a few days. Never refrigerate unripe mangoes and don't store them in plastic bags.
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