Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew has declared the start of the mango harvest season. It began with Tou harvesting a few dozen Kensington Pride (KP) mangoes from his orchard, Tou’s Garden, located in the Australian Northern Territory. As the season ramps up, Ruchkaew, a renowned figure in the local mango industry, anticipates that consumers will soon see an abundance of mangoes available in major supermarkets across Australia.
The Northern Territory is expected to harvest 2.2 million trays of mangoes this year. Ruchkaew’s optimism reflects the hope experienced by a significant number of growers in this northeastern region. He illustrates the need by discussing how farms surrounding Darwin are currently frantically picking fruit. Today’s effort ensures that consumers will continue to enjoy a wide variety of mango varieties nationwide.
A Legacy in Mango Cultivation
Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew is no ordinary grower. He’s a legend of the Northern Territory mango industry. Over the last 30 years, he’s devoted himself to perfecting his own variety, which he’s named Maha Bliss. Today, he has 50,000 Maha Bliss trees planted and they represent his personal shift and commitment to innovation and long-term quality in mango production.
“I think the season will be good this year,” – Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew
Ruchkaew rhapsodizes on the quality of the mangoes this season, their bright colors and waxy skin complementing their reliably sweet flavor. He refers to them as “reliable and very good-looking — the Miss Universe of fruit,” setting high expectations for both consumers and retailers alike.
Positive Outlook for Growers
Industry stakeholders from across the board are backing this enthusiasm for this year’s mango harvest. As Trevor Dunmall, another grower, explained, more and more growers are pushing or forcing fruit to the market early. At the same time, younger fruit is still maturing on the trees. This challenge can result in higher labor demands, as growers need to go back to orchards repeatedly for harvesting.
“Growers are reporting there’s fruit coming into market already, but also fruit at a very young age on the tree,” – Trevor Dunmall
Dunmall is worried that this will mean farmers have to invest more time and money caring for their produce. He recognises what could lie ahead in what is proving to be a promising season.
Abundance of Varieties
Thanks to Ruchkaew and other local growers, consumers will have access to an excellent variety of mangoes this season. Prepare yourself as a ripe mango is one of life’s most pleasurable experiences. At Tou’s Garden, trays of the elusive Maha Bliss mangoes are already for sale. The Northern Territory has in recent years become Australia’s largest supplier of mangoes. Today it accounts for over 50 percent of the country’s mango production.
The excitement really kicks high as the harvest unfolds, especially with our growers. Saramat “Tou” Ruchkaew is one of them, having spent years honing his skills to become a world-class maker. With a little luck, a new and equally promising season similarly lies ahead. Both producers and consumers are keen to enjoy the fruits of all that labor.
