Taiwan mango growers enjoy bumper harvest

台灣芒果職人迎來大豐收

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes are expected to see a bumper harvest this year as stable weather and favorable growing conditions in southern Taiwan boost production, with prices forecast to fall by as much as 50%.

Mango-growing regions across Taiwan have endured successive cold waves over the past two years. Combined with sharp temperature swings between day and night and excessive rainfall, significantly reduced harvests have been experienced, per Storm Media.

However, farmers say weather conditions this year have been comparatively stable, allowing production to rebound sharply. Some growers estimate this year’s output could be more than triple that of previous years.

The increased supply is already affecting prices. During the past two years, limited harvests pushed Irwin mango prices to around NT$120 (US$3.80) per kilogram. This year, prices are expected to return to more typical levels of between NT$50 and NT$60 per kg.

Lu Wang-sheng (盧旺昇), owner of Mango Lu Orchard in Pingtung, said Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes remain popular overseas, with stable long-term supply contracts in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Lu added that domestic demand for mangos also remains strong, meaning prices are unlikely to collapse despite the sharp increase in production, per Storm Media.

Irwin mangoes are cultivated on about 300 hectares in Pingtung's Shizi Township. Farmers say mangoes grown in the area are especially sweet because of the sea breeze and favorable soil conditions.

They also noted that infrastructure improvements supported by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, including the paving of cement roads, have improved transportation and working conditions for farmers. The harvest season for mangos in this township runs from May through July, making it Taiwan’s earliest Irwin mango-producing region, per CNA.

Mango farmer Hsu Hui-yu (許惠玉) said favorable weather this year increased yields by about 50% compared with last year, contributing to a nearly 50% drop in prices. Hsu added that rising production costs have raised concerns about profits despite the larger harvest.