Israeli Researchers Develop New Purple Mango Variety to Regain Export Edge
Israel's mango industry, historically one of the most profitable in local agriculture, produces an average of 55,000 to 65,000 tons annually, with about 30% exported mainly to Europe. However, Israel's competitive advantage has diminished as large producers in Latin America and Africa offer mangoes for longer periods at lower costs. To address this, the Northern R&D Center, part of the Migal Institute at Tel-Hai University, is cultivating hundreds of genetically diverse mango seedlings through crossbreeding to develop the next generation of mango varieties.
Current main Israeli mango varieties such as "Shelly," "Kent," "Keitt," "Maya," and "Omer" face commercial drawbacks including small fruit size, internal damage, green skin, short availability, and limited storage capacity. Dr. Navot Galpaz, leading the project with the Agriculture Ministry and the Mango Table organization, explained that while "Keitt" is prized for taste and quality, its green skin hampers competitiveness in European markets favoring colorful fruit. The goal is to create a variety retaining Keitt's qualities but with colorful skin, higher yield, and greater resilience.
The breeding program aims to extend the marketing season from July-September to June-November, produce fiberless fruit with long shelf life, colorful skin, and stable yields. Researchers combined about 20 wild species and varieties from various sources, characterizing around 700 seeds in the first research year (2025). From these, five promising candidates were selected, including one named "Deep Purple," notable for its late ripening, deep purple color, high fruit quality, and significant yield potential.
"Deep Purple" was planted this summer in experimental plots nationwide, with researchers awaiting results on its commercial viability. Dr. Galpaz emphasized that developing a new fruit tree variety is a marathon, often taking over a decade from candidate identification to commercial planting. If successful, this program could shape the future of Israeli mangoes in international markets for decades to come.
