Return analysis of 'Osteen' and 'Kent' mango orchards in south-eastern mainland Spain

Mango growing has been developing on the Spanish Mediterranean coast over the last 25 years, currently occupying more than 3,300 ha, with a clear increasing trend; 70% of this surface area is planted with the cultivar 'Osteen' (early-mid season). In the coastal area 'Osteen' has good vegetative performance, high average fruit yield with acceptable pulp quality, size, shape, and uniformity as well as attractive color suitable for marketing. Also 'Osteen' is quite tolerant to Ceratitis capitata attacks. As a drawback, the taste characteristics of the fruit, although acceptable, are far from excellent, and 'Osteen' is susceptible to internal breakdown, one of the main troubles of mango in the region. Because of the predominance of 'Osteen' in Spanish mango cultivation, the 'Osteen' is, to some extent identified as the "Spanish mango" in the export market, particularly in the French market. It is, however, a cultivar selected in the 1950s in Florida, USA. For the current low production in Spain (8,000 t), such a lack of supply diversification could be acceptable, but forecast figures for the next five years indicate that Spain will produce more than 25,000 t. and, for this short-term future, greater diversification of cultivars would be advisable. Although it is low-medium yield compared with 'Osteen', the cultivar 'Kent', due to its excellent taste characteristics and its good value in the market is perceived by growers as one of the possible alternatives to 'Osteen' in order to diversify the Spanish supply to both domestic and export markets. In this context, with the aim of encouraging supply diversification, a comparative return analysis for both cultivars, 'Osteen' and 'Kent', would be useful. This paper, based on accounting data taking from typical orchards in the area, both having ‘Osteen’ and 'Kent' plots, provides results from an economic analysis. On the basis of these results, some conclusions are drawn concerning the economic performance of both cultivars in the area.