Mangoes are the June Harvest of the Month
Mangoes are the June Harvest of the Month. As temperatures start heating up , it’s an excellent time for the tropical fruit. Mangoes are native to Asia, and there are around 500 varieties grown world-wide. Most mangoes sold in the United States are sweet, but across the globe mango can also be used in savory and sour dishes.
During the month of June you may find mangoes used more abundantly in a variety of recipes from our cafeterias.
Did You Know?
- Located in East Khandesh, the oldest known mango tree is 300 years old and still produces viable fruit.
- The Mango is an ancient fruit that can be dated as old as 4000 years.
- Green mangoes have higher Vitamin C content, but as the fruit ripens and matures, the amount of Vitamin A it contains increases.
Try These Delicious Recipes
Mango Frosty
Mango Salsa
Stir-Fried Chili Mango Chicken with Peppers
How to Buy and Store: Unlike most fruits, don’t pay attention to color when shopping for mangoes, instead, rely on your sense of smell. Ripe mangoes tend to be aromatic and sweet. Mangoes can be stored on the counter at room temperature while they ripen and then can be moved to the refrigerator where the cool air will help them maintain freshness for an additional 3 to 4 days. Chopped mango should be stored in the refrigerator and will also last 3-4 days. Mango is a stone fruit. This means it has a large pit in the center that is nearly impossible to cut with a knife. This leads to creative methods of cutting mango. One of the most popular is the “hedgehog method.” To cut a mango this way, cut two large slices of mango on either side of the center pit. Then score the flesh of the mango into squares, being sure to cut only the flesh and not the outside skin. Then bend the skin inward and your mango scores will protrude and look like a hedgehog!
Making it Kid-Friendly: Mango is generally easy for kids to accept as it is typically very sweet. When mango is not in season consider using frozen mango chunks as snacks. Once they start to thaw their consistency becomes similar to sherbet! Kids (and adults) sometimes enjoy eating fruit that is cut into fun shapes.
Nutrition and Health Benefits: Mango contains several nutrients that benefit eye health. One mango provides about 20% of an adult’s daily vitamin A needs. Insufficient levels of vitamin A can lead to night blindness, but this specific type of night blindness is reversible if vitamin A levels once again reach optimal levels. Additionally, the vitamin A also helps support a healthy immune system and reduce the risk of infections. Two antioxidants found in mangoes may also benefit eye health, lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help to protect the eye from bright and harmful light.
| Calories: 71 | Saturated Fat: 0g |
| Total Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g |
| Total Carbohydrate: 17g | Vitamin C: 30mg |
| Protein: 0.71g | Fiber 2.1g |
| Iron: 1.9mg | Vitamin A: 714IU |