Origin Fruit Group Mango Packing Protocol

QUALITY STANDARDS

*Images from Queensland Mango Quality Assessment Manual

Quality control DEFECTS | ALL EU CLASS I

DIMPLES on mangoes are small, circular indentations, typically less than 3–5 mm in di ameter. These indentations do not show any signs of broken or discolored skin and do not affect the quality of the flesh. The likely causes of dimples include feeding by dimpling bugs during early fruit growth and abnormal skin formation.

FOREIGN MATTER on mangoes includes visible residues of pesticides, soil, or other substances on the fruit's skin, especially around the stem. This matter is unsightly, di minishes the fruit's appearance, and can have food safety implications. Possible causes include excessive chemical spray applications, contact with soil during harvesting, and animal deposits. SEE KAOLIN, PAGE 21.

SOFT NOSE in mangoes is characterised by premature colour change and softening at the beak or nose end, with the flesh becoming overly soft, dark, yellow, and watery. This can also occur on the fruit's body as it ripens on the tree. Causes may include inadequate nutrition, such as low calcium or high nitrogen, and excessive vegetative growth during fruit development. Fruit from early flowers may also mature faster than the main crop and ripen on the tree. CONFINED LIGHT SKIN on mangoes appears as a well-defined, lighter area on the fruit, often covering at least 25% of the skin. This can affect both blushed and non-blushed are as and is typically rougher in texture. The cause is likely sunburn on very young fruit, where the fruit recovers, but the affected area does not develop full skin colour.

STEM END CAVITY in mangoes is a grey-brown sunken area near the stem attachment, visible in severe cases when it extends to the skin's under-surface. In hard mature fruit, pressing around the stem with a thumb may reveal cavities if the tissue yields easily to pressure. This condition is likely linked to physiological and nutritional imbalances during fruit development, possibly due to low nutrient levels.

CHIMERA in mangoes is characterized by striped areas or blotches of lighter or darker green color on the skin. This condition is caused by a genetic defect, though the exact cause remains unknown.

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Origin Fruit Group | Mango Packing Guide