Demand has also steadily increased in other areas, such as the Middle East and Japan. Florida is the main producer of mangos in the United States. Mangos are also produced in Hawaii and Southern California. In one decade, US imports of fresh mangos increased from 42.4 million lb in 1981 to 139.8 million lb in 1990. Sixty-one percent of the fresh mango imports entered the US between June and August in 1990.
American consumers seem to prefer mangos with strong red color.
Color can be increased by treating mangos with ethylene in banana ripening rooms. Mangos are popular as a backyard tree in Hawaii. For commercial production, it was estimated that there were 15 bearing acres of mango trees in 1989 and an additional 15 nonbearing acres. Honolulu is the major market for mangos in Hawaii. Most of the supply arrived in Honolulu from July to October.