Rain puts mangoes in short supply in isles

Got mangoes?

Guard them carefully because the juicy tropical fruit is in high demand but short supply in the isles these days.

Mango growers on Oahu and Kauai say they’ve been slow coming in for this season’s harvest, which typically stretches from as early as March to November. Summertime is usually the peak, but not this year.

"One of the things that happened this year is we had some rain at odd times," said Mark Suiso, owner of Makaha Mangoes. "Normally, in June, it’s dry, but if you look around it’s caused many of the trees to have leaves instead of flowers. Drive around the island and a lot of mango trees have leaves, not flowers."

No flowers mean no mangoes.

Normally around this time of year, Suiso harvests several hundred pounds of mangoes a day, including Hadens, Mapulehus and Rapozas, from his farm in Makaha. Earlier last week, he picked only about 20 pounds.

"I probably get four to five calls a day from people looking for mangoes," said Suiso, who supplies Hawaii chefs and stores such as Down to Earth and Whole Foods Market.

On Kauai’s north shore, grower Dave Whatmore said he’s facing the same challenges.

"I would say last year was a good year and this year I haven’t picked a single mango yet," he said. "A lot of trees are flushed out in leaves."

Whatmore, who grows several varieties including the Haden, Keitt, Brooks Late, Fairchild and Nam Doc Mai on his 10-acre farm, estimates he’s going to be able to offer only 5 percent of what he had last year. He said prices will have to go up to $3 to $5 a pound at farmers markets.

"If it keeps raining, I may not have any for another year," he said.

With the rain, mango trees are also subject to fungus that attacks the flowers, according to Jari Sugano, extension agent for the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Once stricken, it may take awhile before the tree can flower and bear fruit again.

Backyard growers can call CTAHR’s master gardener hot line for tips on preventing fungus.

Some varieties, including Keitt and Fairchild, tend to fare better in wet weather, according to Lynn Tsuruda of Frankie’s Nursery in Waimanalo, which sells mango trees.

Recent statistics on mangoes were not available from the state Department of Agriculture, which last tracked about 130 farms growing the fruit and 15,000 trees in 2008. Prices averaged $5.99 a pound at many retail stores and farmer’s markets on Oahu last week.

Suiso is still holding out hope, saying there may be a scattering of mangoes between now and November. He still expects to supply enough for the annual Mangoes at the Moana event at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki on July 19.

"Every year, there are less people growing and more that want to buy," Suiso said. "The solution is to get more people growing mangoes. We’re two generations away from a time when everyone grew mangoes in their yard."