United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Animal and 

Plant Health 

Inspection 

Service

June 2011

Regulatory Impact Analysis &

Analysis in Support of Certification that the 

Rule will not have a Significant Economic 

Impact on a Substantial Number of Small 

Entities

Proposed Rule

APHIS-2011-0040

RIN 0579-[XXXX]

Importation of Fresh Mangoes from Australia

Policy & Program Development

Policy Analysis & Development
i

Summary

This proposed rule is in response to a request from Australia to be allowed to export fresh 

mangoes to the United States. The annual quantity that Australia expects to export to the United 

States, 1,200 metric tons, represents only about 0.5 percent of U.S. mango imports (250,000 

metric tons in 2008, primarily from Mexico, Haiti, and Brazil). While mangoes are grown in 

Florida and Hawaii, and in smaller quantities in California and Texas, U.S. annual production 

totals only about 3,000 metric tons.

Most if not all U.S. mango farms and wholesalers are small entities. However, given the 

small quantity expected to be imported from Australia relative to current imports, it is very

unlikely that there would be a significant impact on the mango market. Moreover, the Australian 

mango season, mid-September to mid-April, is the opposite of that in the United States; the fresh 

mangoes imported from Australia would not compete directly with those produced domestically. 

Benefits and costs of the proposed rule are examined in accordance with Executive Order 

12866. U.S. consumers and importers would benefit from increased access to another variety and 

source of fresh mangoes. APHIS has not identified any additional costs associated with the 

proposed rule.

Based on this information, the APHIS Administrator certifies that the proposed rule, if 

promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. 
ii

Table of Contents

Summary.............................................................................................................................. i

Overview of the Action and affected Entities.................................................................... 3

Potential Impact on Small Entities...................................................................................... 3

References........................................................................................................................... 5
iii

Overview of the Action and affected Entities

This analysis provides the basis, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, for 

certification by the APHIS Administrator that the proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a 

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. In response to a request 

from Australia, APHIS is proposing to allow the importation of fresh mangoes from that country

into the United States provided certain pest mitigation measures are taken. 

World production of mangoes is estimated to be about 28.5 million metric tons. India 

produces approximately 39 percent of the world’s total, followed by China and Thailand at 13 

and 6 percent, respectively. Other major mango producers are Mexico, Indonesia, Pakistan, 

Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Egypt. 

The United States produces approximately 3,000 metric tons per year, about onehundredth of one percent of world production. U.S. mango production is concentrated in the 

States of Florida, Hawaii, California, and Texas. While U.S. mango production is limited, the 

United States is the world’s leading importer of fresh mangoes, receiving 33 percent of imports 

worldwide.1

From 1997 to 2006, U.S. importation of mangoes increased from 187,193 metric tons to 

298,088 metric tons, an increase of nearly 59 percent. U.S. mango prices vary widely by cultivar 

and by season. In general, mango prices have been steadily declining over the past decade. 

According to the National Mango Board, the average retail price per fruit in 2008 was $0.91. The 

 

1 Edward A. Evans, 2009.
2

increase in imports can be attributed to greater year-round availability, lower prices, broadening 

consumer preferences, and higher disposable income.2 

Currently, Australia produces 60,000 metric tons of mangoes during the mid-September 

to mid-April season. The major mango production areas are in Queensland, northern New South 

Wales, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.3 Australia is proposing to export 

approximately 1,200 metric tons of mangoes per year to the United States. 

In 2008, the United States imported a total of 250,000 tons of mangoes from Mexico, 

Haiti, and Brazil.4 Australia’s proposed export quantity represents about 0.5 percent of current 

U.S. imports. 

U.S. Consumers will benefit from increased access to another variety of fresh mangoes. 

In addition, because the Australian mango season is opposite that of the United States, fresh 

mango imports would not compete with domestic production and U.S. consumers can have 

access the entire year. U.S. Importers would also benefit from having access another source and 

variety of fresh mangoes for imports

APHIS has not identified any additional costs associated with the proposed rule. Because 

the quantity of mango imports is relatively small, we do not anticipate significant impacts on the 

mango market. 

 

2 Edward A. Evans, 2009.

3Australia Fresh: http://www.australiafresh.com.au/fruit_and_nuts/fruit/mangoes.asp 

4 Edward A. Evans, 2009.
3

Potential Impact on Small Entities

This analysis provides the basis, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, for 

certification by the APHIS Administrator that the proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a 

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

For the purpose of this analysis and following the Small Business Administration (SBA) 

guidelines, the entities potentially affected by the proposed rule are classified within the 

following industries: Other Non Citrus Farming (NAICS 111339) and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 

Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 424480). Establishments classified within Other Non Citrus 

Farming (NAICS 111339) are considered small by SBA standards if annual sales are not more 

than $750,000. APHIS does not have information on the size distribution of mango producers but 

according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture there were 23,641 farms in the Other Non Citrus 

Farming classification, and the market value of their crop sales averaged about $111,000, well 

below the small-entity standard.5 We infer that most if not all U.S. mango farms are also small 

entities. Establishments classified within Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers 

(NAICS 424480) are considered small by SBA standards if they employ not more than 100 

persons. According to the 2007 Survey of Business Owners, 97 percent of the establishments in 

this category employed fewer than 100 people.

Mango imports from Australia are expected to total about 1,200 metric tons per year. 

This represents approximately 0.5 percent of our total mango imports. The mangoes that are 

grown in Florida, California, Texas, and Hawaii are produced primarily for local markets. The 

imports from Australia would likely help meet growing demand in all States. It is very unlikely 

 

5

2007 Census of Agriculture, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Table 46. 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/st99_1_046_046.pdf
4

that additional mango imports of 1,200 metric tons would cause a significant decrease in mango 

prices or otherwise substantially affect the market. Moreover, the Australian mango season, 

mid-September to mid-April is the opposite of that in the United States; the fresh mangoes 

imported from Australia would not compete directly with those produced domestically. 

Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service has determined that this proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
5

References

Census of Agriculture, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/index.asp

Economic Census, 2007, http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/

Edward A. Evans. “Recent Trends in World and U.S. Mango Production, Trade, and 

Consumption.” University of Florida, IFAS Extension FE718.

U.S. Small Business Administration. U.S. Small Business Administration: Table of Small 

Business Size Standards Match to North American Industry Classification System 

http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_sstd_tablepdf.pdf

The Market for Organic and Fair-Trade Mangoes and Pineapples, Study prepared in the 

framework of FAO project and GCP/RAF/404/GER “Increasing incomes and food 

security of small farmers in West and Central Africa through organic and fair-trade 

tropical products.” September 2009.