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We think the most important lesson you can teach your customers is how to choose a mango. We've learned that many consumers think the red blush on a mango is the best indicator of ripeness, and that's just not true.

More than just teaching them how to choose a ripe mango, let's teach them how to choose the right mango for their purposes - whether that's eating it today, eating it later in the week, or using it in a recipe - and what to do with it when they get home.

For use in a story box, try the following:
Headline: Don't Judge A Mango By Its Color
Subhead: Squeeze Gently

Slight soft = ready to eat
Firmer = ripen at room temperature for later

Visual: Bowl or tray of mangos including reds, greens and yellows plus a luscious cut mango. We have some beauty shots of mangos that are perfectly suited to this message in our media section.

If you've got more space to tell the mango selection story, you can use all or part of the following copy:

Mango Selection, Ripening & Storage

To get the most from your mango adventures, you'll want to know how to choose, ripen, and store your mangos once you get them home.

The first step is choosing a great mango, and you might be surprised to learn that you shouldn't judge a mango by color alone. Mangos come in a range of colors - many shades of green, yellow and red - and lots of mangos show more than one color.

You'll want to choose a mango based on its firmness and when you plan to eat it.

Selecting Mangos

• Don't focus on color. It is not the best indicator of ripeness.
• Squeeze the mango gently. A ripe mango will be slightly soft to the touch.
• A firmer mango would be a good choice if you don't plan to eat it for several days.
• Use your experience with produce such as peaches or avocados, which also become soft to the touch when ripe.
• Ripe mangos will often have a fruity aroma at their stem ends.

Ripening & Storing Mangos

• Keep unripe mangos at room temperature. Never refrigerate mangos before they are ripe.
• Mangos will continue to ripen at room temperature, becoming sweeter and softer over several days.
• To speed up ripening, place mangos in a paper bag at room temperature.
• Once ripe, mangos should be moved to the refrigerator, which will slow down the ripening process. Whole, ripe mangos may be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator.
• Mango may be peeled, cubed and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to six months.