Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Agroindustry

IICA Assisted St. Kitts and Nevis with Greater Utilization of Mango

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

October 2015: Mango is one of the most prolific and productive fruits grown in St.

October 2015: Mango is one of the most prolific and productive fruits grown in St. Kitts and Nevis.  However, a large amount of this natural resource remains underutilized and goes to waste.  A request was submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to assist in enhancing the profitability of the Mango Industry through greater utilization of value added products.  In this regard, a project was developed to assist in improving the incomes of the small scale mango farmers and agro-processors in St. Kitts and Nevis. With IICA’s approval of the project, Dr. Donald Mercer, a professor from Guelph University was contracted to assist with its  implementation. This was done by developing capacities and adding value to mango in hygienic conditions that can facilitate access to local and regional markets.

The Project was divided into two phases.  Phase I was implemented in October 2015 and involved 4 days of practical and theoretical training in various mango products such as mango powder, mango leather, dried natural mango, mango delight, mango jam and dry candied mango.  Some of the topics covered included: the reasons for drying fruits and vegetables; factors influencing quality; blanching of fruits and vegetables; types of dryers; factors influencing drying; mango powder preparation; trail mix product development; and a compendium of mango-base products. A total of 45 persons benefitted from this training and each received a manual on the training.

Phase II of the project is expected to be implemented in early 2016 when training will continue focusing on mango juices. In that Phase, the training will cover topics such as beverage formulation steps and processes; hurdle technology and food additives; beverage cost exercise; chilling and freezing; and Pearson’s Square Calculation.

 

Share

Related news​

Santa Fé, Darién, Panamá

September 4, 2025

Coordination between IICA and Panamanian and U.S. government authorities bolsters the fight against New World screwworm in Central America and Mexico

As part of the efforts to curb the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS), a current health threat in Central America and Mexico, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) of Panama, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG) organized a meeting with livestock farmers in the city of Santa Fé de Darién to strengthen health surveillance and better protect local livestock production.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

El Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero, reafirmó en la inauguración de Biohélice 2025 el compromiso del Instituto con la bioeconomía como eje estratégico para transformar el agro y revitalizar los territorios rurales. En el acto lo acompañaron la Directora General de CINDE, Marianela Urgellés; el Rector de la UNA, Jorge Herrera; y el presidente de CRBiomed, Álvaro Peralta.

San Jose, Costa Rica

September 3, 2025

Specialists and partners at a meeting spearheaded by IICA view the bioeconomy as essential in positioning Costa Rica and the Americas as leaders in sustainability and production transformation

The bioeconomy specialists were participating in Biohélice 2025, an event organized by Costa Rica’s Universidad Nacional, the CRBiomed association and IICA, which brought together more than 130 participants with an interest in innovation and bioeconomy.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Alagoas, Brasil

September 1, 2025

Eliane Faria de Souza, a fisherwoman from Northeastern Brazil combining old traditions with innovative ideas to protect the environment, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Eliane works with other women in the region to transform polluting waste substances into organic fertilizer.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins