Statistics released by the Mango Ecuador Foundation show the country's plantations of the fruit have almost been cut in half during the last decade, website Andes.info.ec reported.

The story reported total land dedicated to mango exports has fallen from 10,000 hectares to 5,500 hectares.

The foundation's president Bernardo Malo, told the website the harvest has now begun and will go until mid-January with forecast shipments of 9 million 4kg cartons (8.8lbs).

He said shipments to the country's main market the U.S. took between eight an 11 days, while it was a 20-day journey to reach Europe.

"A small percentage of production is exported to Europe, we haven't tried to grow that much as it takes time to get the fruit to them, and also what they mostly demand is without strings, and that comes with the Kent variety which is not what Ecuador mostly grows," he was quoted as saying.

Photo: Andes.info.ec

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