June 28. Mango

Mango is a tropical/subtropical juicy stone fruit that easily can see in Sierra Leone. Somehow, it was the first time for me to see the actual size of intact mango, and I took a bite of mango. Mango peel was not delicious, so I peeled a mango with my front teeth.

Mangoes have mostly been cultivated in Asia – India, China, Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan – but some African countries – Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone – have growers and marketers of mango. Global demand for mangoes has been rising because people in the richest countries seek organic, super fruit, and natural fruit juices without any sweeteners, instead of consuming soda, such as Coke or Fanta. There is a much more positive outlook on the Sierra Leone economy that harvesting mangoes will create a labor intensive industry that solves thousands of Sierra Leone’s unemployed youth. However, there will be a fierce global competition because India already takes up 50% of the world’s mango production, and other mango producing countries would not easily allow Sierra Leone to go into the mango industry.

Anyway, Sierra Leone mango was sweet! Mango trees are prevalent in all across the tropical landscape, and it could be a good solution to improve maternal health in Sierra Leone.


Reference: 
http://www.bread.org/what-we-do/resources/newsletter/may-june-2013/field-focus-improving.html
http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/63484

Unripe mangoes on a street mango tree