Philippines Grapples With 2 Million Kilos Excess Mango Harvest In Wake Of El Niño

The Philippines is overflowing with millions of unwanted mangoes rendered by an unusual weather pattern that yielded a bumper crop.

“There is a surplus of about 2 million kilos of mangoes now, and this is only in Luzon,” agriculture secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol told reporters.

Luzon is the largest and most populated of the Philippine archipelago’s more than 7,000 islands, which are currently experiencing fallout from the El Niño weather pattern.

Luzon is the largest and most populated of the Philippine archipelago’s more than 7,000 islands, which are currently experiencing fallout from the El Niño weather pattern.

Pinol said the “bumper harvest of mango” was caused by “the long dry spell caused by El Niño which precipitated profuse flowering and fruiting this season.”

El Niño — a shift in wind patterns which occurs every two to seven years— heats the Pacific Ocean. This sends warmer currents to The Philippines, making it drier and warmer.

On Monday Pinol rolled out a series of gimmicks to try to sell the fruit before they spoil…

This included the “Metro Mango” campaign, which will see dozens of fresh fruit stalls selling discount mangoes in Manilla. There are also government-organized mango cooking classes and a mango festival in mid-June.

The cost for a kilogram of mangoes has dropped as low as 20 Philippine pesos (about $0.40). Pinol said he hopes to shift one million kilograms of fresh mangoes in June alone.

DWRS Commando Radio Global reported that some farms have given up hope of making money on the excess mangoes, and are giving them away for free.