Darwin mango crop could be its lowest in up to 20 years
The NT forecast is 3.7 million trays, with Darwin down about 500,000 trays, and quality Kensington Prides wholesaling at $45 to $50 a tray in Sydney.
What the source says
- The Northern Territory mango forecast is 3.7 million trays, 1.9 million from Katherine and 1.8 million from Darwin, and Katherine is on track to grow more than Darwin for the first time.
- NT Mango Industry Association president Leo Skliros said Darwin's crop is down "about 500,000 trays on last year" and may be the lowest in 15 to 20 years, blaming unusual weather and a late end to a big wet season.
- Grower Saramat "Tou" Ruchkaew, who has grown mangoes for 35 years, said: "In 35 years of growing mangoes, I've never seen one [season] like this," estimating her crop is down 30 per cent.
- Sydney Markets reported quality Kensington Pride mangoes wholesaling at $45 to $50 a tray, and a Darwin supermarket was selling them for $3 each.
- Prices are expected to ease as Katherine volumes rise and the Queensland harvest starts.
Source: ABC News, 2026-10-14
Why it matters here
Keep an eye on the mango price at your greengrocer or farmers' market; the growers expect prices to ease once Katherine and Queensland fruit arrives.
Sit. Eat. Then we talk. My mother would never sell a mango before it was ready, and these growers are picking the same trees five times to get a crop at all. Bea says "a late wet and patchy flowering, the trees were telling them early." So when the first cheap tray turns up before Christmas, who decides how much of that price goes back to the farmer?
N.A.N.A. presenters are AI characters. Facts above come from the named source; the take is labelled opinion.