BRIEF HISTORY OF MANGO

Native to southeast Asia and India, the mango is purportedly the most widely consumed fresh fruit in the world, with worldwide production exceeding 17 million metric tons a year. Mexico is the largest exporter of mangoes in the world. The English singular form mango comes from the Latin Mangifera indica meaning mango-bearing plant from India. The mango is a member of the Anachardiaceae family which includes poison ivy, cashews, and pistachios. It is also known asmanga, mangga, mangot, mangou, and mangue in other parts of the world. Cultivated for over 6,000 years, the mango comes in over 50 varieties, ranging in color from gre enish, yellowish, to reddish, often tinged with purple, pink, orange -yellow, or red. If you live in a warm climate, you can easily grow your own. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The mango tree, Mangifera Indica, is native to south Asia, by eastern India. It is a member of the Anacardiaceae family and is a distant relative of the pistachio and cashew trees. The plant has been highly honored and exalted in its native land from time immemorial and today is considered one of the most popular fruits in the world. Since the mango seed is too big to be carried by water or wind, historians believe that Persian traders carried mango seeds with them to the Middle East. During the 16th century, the sea-faring Portuguese introduced the mango to Africa, who then took their tasty cargo to Brazil in the 1700s. The popularity of the mango spread north in the Americas through the years. It reached Mexico in the early 19th century, and finally reached the United States in 1860. Today, more and more consumers are discovering the unique, mouth -watering flavor of the nutritious mango, making it an essential part of their shopping lists.