New mango has name to match its fame

30-Jan-2003

New mango has name to match its fame

Australia’s newest mango may have already wowed consumers in trials as far a field as Europe, but now it finally has a name to match its stunning taste and appearance.

Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk, who officially launched the new brand - Calypso™ – at Southbank in Brisbane today, said the new mango was a Smart State combination of science, marketing and product quality.

Mr Palaszczuk said the variety behind the Calypso™ mango brand, B74,  has been specifically bred to take the best characteristics of the Kensington Pride variety and compliment this with qualities from a high blush mango called Sensation which has a fibreless texture, improved shelf life and even a smaller seed.

The B74 mango has been bred by the Department of Primary Industries’ Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences in partnership with Childers district mango growers John and Jay Dorrian.

“Calypso™ is a striking blush-coloured mango with smooth skin and firm fibreless texture,” he said.

This season, Calypso™ mangoes are being primarily sourced from Childers and Bundaberg, with a small quantity of fruit received from far north Queensland and the Northern Territory late last year.

A call to Queenslanders was sent out last year by Mr Palaszczuk, in a bid to find an appropriate name for the DPI bred mango, technically known as “B74” received hundreds of replies, including Crimson Blush, Lady Scarlet, Sunblush and Tango.

The name B74 comes from the row and tree number of the variety in initial DPI trials.

Mr Palaszczuk said the winner of the naming competition was Mr Bert Dun of North Stradbroke Island.

"Calypso™ is by far the best mango I've ever tasted.  Its sweetness and intensity of flavour evoked images of the tropics, like a calypso band dancing on your taste buds. It just had to be called Calypso™," Mr Dun said.

Robert Gray, Chief Operating Officer of The Harvest Company – the Brisbane-based organisation that  is responsible for the commercialisation of the mango – said the Calypso™ brand was set to change the Australian mango industry. 

“The outstanding commitment from all partners within the supply chain - from propagation through to production, logistics, marketing and promotion – means that the management of the ‘Calypso™’ mango is already one of Australia’s leading examples of innovation in Australian horticulture,” Mr Gray said.  

“With its outstanding characteristics it is ideal for the export market.  In addition, we’re looking at ways to supply the domestic market with mangoes for a longer season, which is great news for all those mango lovers out there.”

The Harvest Company has lead innovation in the Australian horticultural industry for over two decades and its unique supply chain business model has been established specifically to commercialise new, consumer driven products including the Calypso™ mango brand. 

A dynamic, 100% family owned operation, Harvest is responsible for the category management and supply of innovative fresh fruit and vegetable products to the major supermarket chains nationwide.  These products include All Heart Seedless Watermelon, Guaranteed Sweet Rockmelons, Honeydews and Stonefruit as well as Bethonga Gold Pineapples.

‘Calypso™’ mangoes are available during February at selected supermarket outlets and specialised independent green grocers.

 30 January 2003

Media Contact:

·Kirby Anderson (Mr Palaszczuk’s office) (07) 3239 3004 or 0418 197 350

·  Robert Gray, COO, The Harvest Company (07) 3252 5060 or 0418 737 861

Further information:

·  Chris Adriaansen  (DPI Agency For Food and Fibre Sciences) (07) 3896 9401

·  Felicity Robson, National Marketing and Sales Manager, The Harvest Company (07) 3252 5060 or 0409 973 061