Mango growers eye strong season as harvest kicks off in Queensland

Mango growers in Queensland are expecting a good season with good prices as picking begins in the Whitsundays.

Key points: The Australian Mango Industry Association says that there will be plenty of mangoes on the market this year body and growers are hoping prices aren't too low because input costs are still high the first grower in Queensland to start picking and he says his yield looks like promising.

"I would say it's average to probably above average for us," he said.

"Looking at others in the area, it's a good harvest."

He said the quality and prices were good.

"They kind of fetch $40 to $45, which is pretty good," Mr. Ruttiman said.

"If you can have fruit of good quality they pay bea Lots of money for that."

But with many more growers expected to have a good year, prices could drop as more growers start picking.

"Maybe as more come on the market, the volume might start to increase," he said.

Australian Mango Industry Association chief executive Brett Kelly agreed that there were likely to be plenty of mangoes on the market in due course.

"Flowering has been excellent, collectively, in all regions," he said.

"So we seem to have quite a lot of volume this year."

Most growers are still weeks away from picking and at the moment those who have started to say demand is high.

"I can't fill orders and fill l e amount they want," Mr. Ruttiman said.

The majority of Mr. Ruttiman's mangoes are destined for overseas markets.

Alan Ruttiman says there's a lot of demand for his fruit. (ABC Rural: Ashleigh Bagshaw)

Work is a "concern permanent"

It's still early days, so the impact of labor shortages on Queensland's mango season has yet to be seen.

"Getting manpower, of course, is always an ongoing concern," Mr. Ruttiman said.

But Mr. Kelly says the industry and producers acted early.

"In the short term, everyone is focused on it, all industry-leading organs are working closely on behalf of of our producers and farmers with all the representatives of the States ats and federal government,” he said.

In the Bowen area, growers hoped the launch of the Pick Paradise campaign in September would attract more workers to the area. .

But Mr. Kelly said there was no simple solution.

"It's an ongoing challenge but the majority of growers I talk to are very well organized to make sure the mangoes get to market," he said.

"I hope that 'there will be very good prices achieved...because the cost of production and the cost of making bu...