The Philippines Has 10 Million Extra Mangoes After Heat Wave

If summertime means indulging in juicy mangoes to you, then get thee to the Philippines. Thanks to an unseasonably warm stretch earlier this spring, farms in the Philippines are loaded with 10 million extra mangoes — and they aren’t quite sure what to do with them all. According to a report from Insider, the overly warm weather has caused a bumper crop, with mangoes growing into market-ready condition at a rate far faster than farmers and vendors can handle. The bulk of the problem is taking place on Luzon, the country’s most populous island.

Mangoes grow best in warm environments that don’t experience excess rainfall. The recent heat wave in the Philippines has been accompanied by dry conditions, and the island’s mango trees have taken full advantage of the dry soil. This warm and dry weather is caused in part by El Nino, the same weather pattern that has brought all-time ski conditions to North America this year and allowed places like California’s Mammoth Mountain to extend their ski seasons throughout much of the summer. “There is a surplus of about 2 million kilos of mangoes now, and this is only in Luzon,” said agriculture secretary Emmanuel Pinol in a speech to reporters earlier this week. Pinol estimated that the country has two weeks to rid itself of the excess mangoes.

Vendors and even the federal government are developing catchy ways to market the mega-stash of mangoes. One such campaign has been dubbed “Metro Mango,” where dozens of fruit stands in the capital city of Manila will sell mangoes at an extreme discount. The government is organizing cooking classes featuring mango-heavy recipes and even an extra mango festival set for later this month.

H/T: Insider