The U.S.-based National Mango Board (NMB) has scheduled a series of workshops for 2012 in six exporting countries in a bid to improve quality.

An NMB release said its own staff would be present at the eight Mango Extension Workshops to present research and findings, and best practices from their Postharvest Best Management Practices Manual, which would be available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

The board highlighted researchers and consultants would also be at the workshops, representing universities and institutions that include the University of Florida, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Universidad de Queretaro and the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones de Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) de Mexico.

The release mentioned several topics to be addressed at the workshops, including selected agricultural practices, postharvest management practices, hot-water treatment and hydro-cooling, good agricultural practices (GAP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP), mango maturity, irradiation in mangos, consumer attitude and mango usage, and nutrition and health benefits of mangoes.

The first of the workshops will be held in Chiapas, Mexico on May 25-26, while the remainder are scheduled as follows:

- Haiti, Jun. 13

- Peru, Jul. 4-5

- Brazil, Jul. 19

- Colima, Mexico, Aug. 9-10

- Ecuador, Aug. 30-31

- Nayarit, Mexico Sep. 27-28

- Guatemala, Dec. 5

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