Market Basket
Mango season is upon us

By Joan Namkoong
Advertiser Food Editor

Luscious local mangoes, in a number of varieties, are now in season. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tommy Atkins mangoes have been prolific this year, one of the many varieties coming from Dole's Waialua orchards. Some of these weighed in at almost two pounds, yielding two cups of sliced fruit for some good chutney. When they ripen, Tommy Atkins mangoes are a little stringy but still have a nice flavor.

Keitt and Manzanillo varieties from Dole will soon be seen in supermarkets, part of the more than 150,000 pounds the company hopes to harvest this year, according to Dole Food Co. Hawai'i president Jerry Vriesenga. "It's a fresher product, picked ripe," said Vriesenga. "It's our intention to have an affordable mango." Dole's mangoes are being featured at Times through July 3 for 99 cents a pound.

In the past couple of years, mango farmers in Waialua and Wai'anae have experienced crop thefts when the fruit was green. That's still happening at Aloun Farms' Wai'anae site, according to Alec Sou, who says he will not produce anything significant this year.

Candy Suiso is optimistic about her Makaha mangoes: Popes, Mapulehu, White Pirie, Garcia, Haden and Keitt. "We're sending it all to 'Ihilani Resort right now," she said. "They're serving it fresh, using it in sauces and desserts." Suiso says consumers can look for her mangoes at Tropic Fish at Ward Farmers' Market as the season peaks in the next few weeks.

Diced macadamias are a deal

During some recent recipe testing, I realized how difficult macadamia nuts are to chop into uniform pieces. Buying the nuts already diced is worth every penny. Island Bakery and Grocery Supply, distributor of Hawai'i-grown macadamias on Moloka'i, has a sale on diced macadamia nuts. A 5-pound bag of large diced macadamia nuts is $30, including postage to O'ahu. It's a limited-time offer; call (808) 567-6517.

Send shopping queries and new product information to: Market Basket, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. E-mail: jnamkoong@honoluluadvertiser.com. Or call: 525-8069.