National Mango Board's "The Mango Store" Popped Into New York To Remind Everyone That Even One Bite Can Brighten A Blustery Winter Day

One-Day Pop-Up Experience Aimed to Help America Get to Know the 'King of Fruits' and Make Mangos an Everyday Fruit

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Mar 08, 2019, 08:00 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., March 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mangos are the most popular fruit in the world, yet they are still new for many Americans. The National Mango Board wants to change that by unveiling The Mango Store, which offered New Yorkers on March 7 a one-day opportunity to discover the culture, flavor, nutrition and versatility of mangos.

On March 7, the National Mango Board unveiled The Mango Store, which offered New Yorkers a one-day opportunity to discover the culture, flavor, nutrition and versatility of mangos.

Currently ranked behind other popular fruits in the U.S., including apples and bananas, mangos hover around the 13^th most consumed fruit¹. The top two reasons Americans do not buy mangos are not knowing how to select a ripe mango and simply not thinking about them when shopping or making their grocery list. Not knowing how to cut a mango or not recognizing the fruit is available year-round, are other reasons why people pass by mangos.

"We recognized Americans love the flavor of mangos but needed some motivation to see mangos in a new light and enjoy the fresh, whole fruit beyond the peak summer months. We needed to make a bold move to showcase what they've been missing," said Valda Coryat, director of marketing for the Orlando-based National Mango Board. "To help bring the world's love of mangos to the U.S., we created this experience that immersed people in a fun, juicy mango experience. Our Mango Store was the perfect opportunity to brighten up a cold, winter day in Manhattan with the sunniest fruit in the produce aisle and raise awareness that mangos are always in season."

The Mango Store was designed to educate visitors about the six main varieties of mangos and where they are grown, along with how to select and prepare mangos. The experience included mango tastings, live recipe demonstrations by celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Synder and influencer Lauren Magenta and a display of new products featuring mango – which has become one of the most popular flavors of beverages, snacks and condiments. New foods and beverages featuring mango have increased 24% in the last five years.²Mango has even made its way into skincare and beauty products.

"One of the reasons we are able to enjoy mangos in the U.S. year-round is because mangos are coming in from all over the world," said Manuel Michel, executive director of the National Mango Board. "From Ecuador and Brazil to Peru and Mexico, all these places have various peak seasons allowing us to enjoy the superfruit year round. The perceived seasonality of mangos is a barrier we are trying to address, so we hope our Mango Store will inspire people to look for mangos beyond the spring and summer months."

"Mangos do not always get the nutrition credit they deserve," says Coryat. "That's why the National Mango Board is positioning mangos as a 'super fun superfruit' and celebrating mangos as a nutrient powerhouse. As one of the richest sources of vitamin C, mangos provide 100% of the Daily Value of vitamin C per cup. Each serving is also an excellent source of vitamin A, folate and copper and a good source of fiber."

The scientific evidence for mangos is mounting – with studies on everything from heart health and diabetes to gut health and skin health. The bright color of mangos is a clue that the flesh is abundant in beneficial plant compounds known as polyphenols.

Mangos are a $555 million dollar industry in the U.S., and though mango consumption is at the highest it has ever been in the U.S. – growing 82% in the last 12 years to 3.42 pounds of per capita consumption, according to the National Mango Board – some Americans still have trouble identifying a mango.

Interested in learning more about the National Mango Board and ways to incorporate mangos into your routine? Visit Mango.org, follow the National Mango Board on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and discover everything from The Mango Store with the hashtag #TheMangoStore.

About the National Mango Board: The National Mango Board is an agriculture promotion group supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board's mission is to bring the world's love of mangos to the U.S. by inspiring consumers to discover the culture, flavor, nutrition and versatility of mangos. Learn more at mango.org.

¹USDA Economic Research Service, The NMB calculated the consumption per capita for 2017.
²Mintel, GNPD, 2019.

SOURCE The National Mango Board