It's a bad year for mangoes. Miami chill might have ruined harvest

Zoom in: At Miami-Dade County's Fruit & Spice Park, only about 25% of the over 180 mango cultivars have produced fruit this year, park horticulturalist Louise King told Axios.

• Last year, it was almost 100%.

What they're saying: Jonathan Crane, a University of Florida tropical fruit crop specialist, told Axios there's a number of potential explanations for the "much reduced" mango harvest.

• The winter chill might have damaged or killed mango embryos during the flowering and fruit-setting period.
• High winds could have knocked down flowers and newly set fruit. Any periods of low relative humidity could also prevent fruit from setting.
• "Another factor is that in general, if we have a large harvest one year, then next year it is lower — this is common," Crane said.

Stunning stat: Tropical fruit expert Richard Campbell predicted this would be South Florida's third-worst mango harvest since 1977, per Edible South Florida.

The latest: Mango Mania, the annual educational workshop at Fruit & Spice Park, was canceled this year due to a lack of fruit, Edible South Florida first reported.

• It marks the first time the event organized by the Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Society of Redland has been canceled other than during the COVID-19 pandemic, King said.
• "It just didn't look like we could offer the kind of experience that it's been known to have all these years," King said. "People eat mangoes until they're sick of eating mangoes."

This year's modest harvest has also impacted the mango barter market.

• Zak the Baker, which exchanges loaves of bread for mangoes each year, reduced its mango conversion rate due to the "weaker crop." (Five mangoes instead of six will get you one loaf of bread.)

On the bright side: The subpar harvest isn't stopping the annual Mango Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden from July 13-14.

• Garden director Carl Lewis told Axios visitors can "expect the same delicious mango experiences as always," including a brunch, smoothies, tastings and trees for sale. (Tickets are $25 for adults; the brunch is $125 for non-members.)
• "While some mango varieties are producing fewer fruits this year, it showcases the importance of biodiversity in mango cultivation — a principle we've long championed at Fairchild," Lewis said in a statement.

Pro tip: Home gardeners should grow different mango varieties because each tree responds to weather conditions differently, Lewis said.

• "Mango production is related to seasonal weather patterns, and every year is different."