– Mango growers in Guatemala seek to increase their crop, following the 200-percent growth of exports in the last decade. The rise in sales generated some eight million dollars in profits, said Monica González, spokeswoman for the Association of Non-Traditional Product Exporters.

In 2004, 6.9 tons of mango were exported, rising to 14.2 million tons in 2005, and for this year the exports are forecast to reach 14.5 million tons with the introduction of the ataulfo variety, native to Mexico, González told Tierramérica.

Guatemala is the fifth leading exporter of mangos in Latin America, and first in Central Ameirca, with some 200 growers cultivating around 7,000 hectares, according to the private Association.

The U.S. market absorbs 85 percent of Guatemala's mango exports, says Eddy Martínez, manager of the DFT packing company.