In recent years, Mexico has made significant strides in both production and shipping; its export season begins at the end of January and generally runs through August, sometimes into September. That said, mangos are still available all year, with production from several locations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Most mangos sold in the United States come from our southerly neighbor, as one out every 20 mangos consumed worldwide comes from Mexico.
According to the National Mango Board, by mid-June 2013 Mexican mango shipments totaled 35.6 million boxes for the current season, up from about 32 million boxes a year earlier. Mango consumption has jumped an impressive 30 percent in the United States since 2008. Most are one of six popular varieties: Ataulfo, Kent, Keitt, Francis, Haden and Tommy Atkins. “We’re seeing more demand for mangos in traditionally non-Hispanic areas,” says Ciruli, who sells the increasingly popular ‘Champagne’ mango and recently set up a website devoted exclusively to the succulent fruit. And although customers have been ordering larger quantities and runnning more ads, he notes, “more work still needs to be done by the industry to promote consumption.”
Malanga is a traditional part of Caribbean diets and is similar to a honeydew melon.
False – It is a tuber similar to potatoes, albeit considerably less attractive and coated with wiry hair. Especially popular in Cuba, malanga develops a nutty taste when roasted or fried; boiled, it becomes creamy and makes a superb purée akin to whipped potatoes in both taste and consistency. Tasty as it is, malanga is fairly high in calories while not offering much in terms of nutrition. The good news for food-allergy sufferers: malanga is one of the most hypoallergenic foods in the world.
Toronto, Ontario, has the highest Hispanic population in Canada.
True – In 2011, Toronto’s Hispanic population reached 381,200 and accounted for 2.8 percent of the city’s total headcount—up by about 25 percent from the previous census in 2006. While it may seem like a big jump, Hispanics comprised just 1.2 percent of the country’s population. The dominant minority in Canada is Asian, with nearly 1.5 million across the country, primarily of Chinese descent. In 2012 alone, nearly 33,000 Chinese were issued permanent resident status in Canada.
