Mangos should be picked before they are fully ripe, at which time they soften and fall. The fruit bruises easily and must be handled carefully to avoid damage. They are ripened at room temperature and then refrigerated. According to FAO estimates, world mango production was 33.1 billion lb in 1989. Other major producers were Mexico, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines.
Mangos are available year-round in various import markets.
Countries such as Brazil, Peru and Venezuela are major suppliers during winter while Mexico, Haiti, India and the Philippines are major suppliers during the spring and summer seasons. Mangos are consumed primarily in the producing countries. However, mango imports in European and North American markets have increased ten-fold since 1975. 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.