Where Does Costco Source Its Mangos?

As anyone that's squeezed a supermarket mango only for it to remain rock solid to the touch will know, a ripe mango is a highly coveted find in the produce aisles. You can tell a mango is ready to eat by feel and smell — it should be tender, giving a little when pressed, and have a honey-like fruitiness. But sourcing these prized juicy mangos throughout the year from your local grocer can be tricky. While there are many produce items you shouldn't buy from Costco, mangos are not on that list. But where does Costco get them? From a mixture of countries that include the U.S., India, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Vietnam, and Guatemala.

Browsing the shelves of Costco, you'd be forgiven for thinking mangos are always in season, which is sort of true. Technically speaking, there are two seasons — spring through summer and fall through winter. But that translates to shoppers as year-round availability. Varieties like Ataulfo from Mexico are at their best until mid-July, Californian Keitts come into their own a little later until mid-September, and varieties like Tommy Atkins — which can be grown in Brazil and Peru — thrive until as late as mid-January. Elephant mangos, a less readily available Vietnamese variety, even pop up at Costco when they're available.

There are a few different varieties of mango that Costco favors. Ataulfo are widely available and popular. Think of them as the anti-fibrous mango — perfect for anyone that finds the sometimes-stringy skin of a Tommy Atkins off-putting. These Mexican fruits are custardy when at peak ripeness, and silky enough to blend seamlessly into smoothies, too.

Elephant mangos, so named for their oversized appearance, are another hit. These fruits are grown in Vietnam and have vibrant green and pink tinged skin. According to one shopper on Reddit, "Flavor-wise ... it lands between the honey-sweet Ataulfo and the tangy Tommies [Tommy Atkins]." You pay for the novelty factor of these XL fruits, though, with the mangos costing around $10.99 for two. Thanks to their sweet butteriness, elephant mangos work well in dishes like mango sticky rice, coconut chicken curry, and fresh mango salsa, or simply sprinkle the fruit with chili for a moreish, spicy-sweet snack.

But there's a clear winner when it comes to shoppers' devotion, and that's the mangos from India. Considered the crème de la crème of the mango world, mangos from India are highly sought after. The Seattle Times reported, "They're such a precious commodity that entire pallets {at Costco] have disappeared in a matter of hours." Each variety is slightly different — Alphonso is very sweet, Langra has a strong, fragrant taste, and Kesar is mildly sour and pleasantly sweet.