Base of the dried organic mango
The mango (Mangifera indica) belongs to the cashew family and is one of the oldest cultivated stone fruits. Originally from South Asia, it is now grown in numerous tropical and subtropical regions and is available in a wide range of varieties.
The organic mangoes sourced by LIMBUA grow as fruit on evergreen mango trees on the organic mixed farms of local smallholder farmers. Mango trees require warm, tropical or subtropical conditions and well-drained soils.
Depending on the variety, ripe mangoes differ in size, shape, colour, sweetness and texture. Their skin may remain green or turn yellow, orange or red as the fruit matures.
How do mangoes grow?
The mango tree (Mangifera indica) belongs to the cashew family and is an evergreen fruit tree. Originally native to South Asia, it is now grown in many tropical and subtropical regions. Under favourable conditions, a mango tree can grow to more than 30 metres in height and live for many decades. In commercial cultivation, the trees are usually kept lower through regular pruning, making them easier to maintain and harvest.
The tree is characterised by its broad, densely covered canopy. Its long, leathery leaves are often reddish or copper-coloured when young and gradually turn dark green as they mature. The tree develops a strong taproot and an extensive root system, allowing older mango trees to absorb water and nutrients from different layers of the soil. Mango trees prefer warm, frost-free locations and well-drained soils.
The flowers grow in large, branched clusters at the ends of the branches. A single cluster can carry several hundred to thousands of small yellowish, cream-coloured or reddish flowers. Only a small proportion of these flowers will eventually develop into fruit. Pollination is mainly carried out by flies, bees and other insects.
Depending on the variety, location and method of propagation, a mango tree will usually produce its first fruit after around three to six years. It takes approximately four to five months for a mango to develop from flower to ripe fruit. The mangoes grow individually or in clusters on long stems and vary considerably in size, shape and skin colour. Even when ripe, mangoes may be green, yellow, orange or reddish, so skin colour alone is not a reliable indication of ripeness.
Organic mango from local smallholder farmers
LIMBUA sources organic mangoes from frost-free, warm growing regions in Kenya. Climatic conditions and the timing of the harvest influence the development of the fruit and its Brix value, which indicates the soluble solids content.
The mangoes are sourced from organic contract smallholder farmers who also sell macadamia nuts and avocados to LIMBUA. On their organic mixed farms, mango trees grow alongside other crops. The farmers receive support and training from the agronomists of the LIMBUA field team on organic farming requirements and mango tree management. Inputs include well-decomposed organic compost and products permitted under the applicable organic standards. Examples include Minjingu rock phosphate from Tanzania and Rotuba Tosha from LIMBUA’s own organic compost.
Harvesting takes place from November to March. The mangoes are selectively picked by hand once they have reached the physiological maturity required for further processing. They are then checked against defined quality criteria and transported to the processing facility.
Trained LIMBUA harvest workers support the smallholder farmers during harvesting. Their training includes assessing fruit maturity and handling the mangoes carefully. Part of the stem is left attached to the fruit during picking to reduce the release of the milky sap.
Mango purchase directly on site
The harvested mangoes are purchased directly at the farms by the LIMBUA purchasing team. Each contract smallholder farmer is identified by fingerprint scan and linked to the corresponding purchasing transaction.
As with macadamia nuts and avocados, mango purchases are recorded digitally. The farmer’s identity, the quantity delivered and the individual purchase are documented in the system. Payment is made via M-Pesa directly to the farmer’s mobile account. The digital records enable the purchased mangoes to be traced within the LIMBUA supply chain back to the respective contract smallholder farmer.
LIMBUA Mango varieties
Several hundred mango varieties are known worldwide, differing in taste, texture, colour, shape and size. In LIMBUA’s growing regions, the mango season generally runs from November to March, with the largest harvest volumes occurring in January and February.
LIMBUA sources organic mangoes of the following varieties from its contract smallholder farmers:
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Kent: The Kent mango is a large, oval fruit with predominantly dark green skin that may develop a dark red blush. Its flesh is sweet, juicy and low in fibre. Due to these characteristics, LIMBUA uses this variety to produce dried mango strips.
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Tommy Atkins: The Tommy Atkins mango is one of the most widely cultivated mango varieties internationally. It has firm, deep yellow flesh with a mildly sweet flavour and a slightly fibrous texture. Its firm consistency and resistance to handling and transportation also make it suitable for processing into dried mango strips.
Production of organic dried mango
The smallholder farmers’ organic mixed farms are located close to the LIMBUA production facility, keeping transportation distances for the tropical fruit short. This enables the harvested mangoes to be processed promptly.
After harvesting, all mangoes are transported to the production facility on the same day in specially ventilated harvest crates and placed in controlled storage. Processing takes place promptly, as the quality of the fruit used has a significant influence on the quality of the final product: dried organic mangoes.
LIMBUA uses a high proportion of manual work for peeling, cutting and removing the stones:
- This creates jobs for people from the surrounding smallholder community, including many young people and women.
- Manual processing enables controlled handling of the fruit and careful selection of the mango pieces.
Finally, the organic mango pieces are dried using a raw-food air-drying process without added sugar.
The purchasing and processing of organic mangoes provide an additional source of income for the participating contract smallholder farmers and create jobs in the growing region. The purchasing and processing of organic mangoes provide an additional source of income for the participating contract smallholder farmers and create jobs in the growing region. Local processing also keeps additional production steps in Kenya before the products are exported.
An organic snack in bulk
The dried organic mangoes from LIMBUA are a fruity snack available to business customers as bulk goods in 8 kg packaging. Cultivation, harvesting and processing are carried out in accordance with the applicable organic and quality requirements.
The mangoes are harvested at physiological maturity and dried without added sugar. This preserves the characteristic flavour and natural sweetness of the fruit. Organic certification documents compliance with the applicable requirements throughout the certified supply chain.