Mangoes stay the longest in season in Hawaii, where they’re available and harvested from March to November. Mango season is shorter in North and South California, where it’s only harvested between June and August.
However, South Florida enjoys a month more than the Californian region, having its mango season between May-August instead.
Other US states don’t have the land and climate support for mangoes. So, they rely on these mango-growing states for their supplies. Thanks to Hawaii, the US can have a steady supply of mango and its by-products all year round.
Which US States Get Mango Season?
Only Hawaii, North and South Carolina, and South Florida grow a significant number of mangoes to have notable mango seasons in the US.
I’ve distilled the mango season in each region into the table below, where Hawaii is the clear winner with an eight-month-long mango season to keep the entire United States in the mango business.
| States | Mango Season |
|---|---|
| North California | June – August |
| South California | June – August |
| South Florida | May-August |
| Hawaii | March – November |
When Is Mango Season in Florida?
The Mango season spans May, June, July, and August in South Florida, which is the only region in Florida to cultivate the fruit. Thus, the fruit only grows in Florida’s summer/fall season and not in the winter months.
However, imported mango supply from other US states (like Hawaii and California) and abroad makes up for the deficit on months when the fruit isn’t in season.
When Is Mango Season in California?
The Mango season is between June to August in California. Unlike Florida, Southern and Northern California have the land and climate support for mango trees.
Even so, their mango seasons are the same. Thus, they can’t rely on one another to pick up local supplies in the off-season. Therefore, the weight falls on Hawaii and the imported mango supply to keep the fruit on shelves.
When Is Mango Season in Hawaii?
Hawaii has the most extended mango season in the USA, with mango trees in the state fruiting between March and November. This period represents the extended summer in Hawaii as production starts to taper off towards the ushering of the winter months.
Since Hawaii is the single largest domestic supplier of mangoes, the supply hit is taken care of by mango imports which pick up the deficit.
Can You Buy Mangoes in the Winter?
The winter months don’t support the local growth of mangoes in the US, and you’ll usually have to pay more for a limited supply.
Despite that, the US is currently the largest importer of mangoes in the world. So, the imported volume makes up for the drop in local production. That way, you can have mangoes in the winter or any other time.
Hawaii has the most extensive production run of mangoes in the US and usually has its winter between October and April. These months coincide with the start and end of the mango season in the region, underlining the mango scarcity at those times of the year.
What Time of the Year Are Mangoes the Best?
Local mango varieties are the best about two months into their season and two months before they go off-season. Mangoes from early and late in the season suffer from a rainfall shortage, making them less juicy and sweet compared to the mid-season picks with ample rain.
Likewise, most of the mangoes sold at the start of the season are the first fruit and had suffered through the previous harsh winter. Once harvested, the mango tree starts throwing up new, juicier options.
Also, the mangoes are usually plucked and stored in large warehouses towards the end of the season. So, while they look fresh, they’ve been off the tree for longer and may not taste as good.
When Should You Buy a Mango?
Unless you’re a chef who needs a special kind of mango texture, ripeness, and quality, I suggest you buy a mango anytime you feel like eating one.
While you can wait till later after the season to start eating mangoes, you may as well satisfy your craving by starting now.
However, I understand if you want to save your taste buds for the best mangoes when they come out. After all, that’s something I do with some other fruits too.
Can You Buy Mangoes Any Time of the Year?
You can buy mangoes in your locale even when it’s not in the season due to the constant supply of imported mangoes to augment the local production volume.
Imported mangoes supplement some in-season mangoes to cater to greater demand or take advantage of lower prices where possible.
If you’re used to local mangoes, you may notice a different taste or feel to the imported ones. However, there’s usually not much to separate them, and you won’t be missing out on a lot.
Are All Varieties of Mangoes Available at the Same Time?
Different mango varieties (like Tommy Atkins, Francis mango, Haden mango, etc.) are available at other times of the year. This spread makes it possible for the general mango family always to be available.
If you want specific varieties, you might have to wait longer.
Here’s a table defining the peak availability of some different mango varieties and when they may be sparsely available.
| Mango Varieties | Peak Availability | Sparse Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Atkins mangoes | March – July | January – February; August – December |
| Honey/Ataulfo mangoes | March – July | January – February; August – December |
| Francis mangoes | May – June | March; July – August; October – November |
| Kent mangoes | December – January | February – November |
| Keitt mangoes | Early March; August – September | Mid-March – Mid-April; April – July; October – December |
| Haden mangoes | March – April | January – February; May – December |
Don’t Panic-Buy Mangoes
It would be best if you didn’t let anyone make you panic-buy mangoes because they’re going out of season in some states. Even when these US states are in full production swing, there’s still importation support to ensure everyone gets a steady mango supply.
If you must buy and keep mangoes, keep them well, so they last longer.
