ASSESSMENT OF MANGO LOSSES ON THE WHOLESALE MARKET OF THE VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO, BRAZIL

Abstract

Losses in mango varieties on the wholesale market of the Vale do São Francisco, Brazil, their causes and precautions for avoidance are investigated. Research, visits and interviews have been undertaken in wholesale markets (supermarkets, fruit and vegetable markets and fairs) for current analysis. Results shows that mango weekly losses average 14% for Tommy Atkins variety, 7% for Rosa variety, 12% for Palmer variety, 17% for Espada variety and 14% for other varieties (Keit, Kent and Handen). The fruit and vegetable market, the main wholesale market, has the greatest losses, with 15.88% of mango varieties. Wholesalers attributed mango losses to different causes. Whereas managers of supermarkets and fairs identified excessive handling of the fruit by the client as the main cause of losses (33.33% in the case of supermarkets and 46.43% in the case of fairs), the vegetable and fruit markets attributed losses to fast fruit maturation (58.62%). Buying control, clients´ behavior and storing improvement should take first place. The more traditional fruit outlets of the Vale do São Francisco region should develop better mango distribution to clients so that quality and financial liabilities would be avoided.