Ag Ministry: 2009 good for mango harvest.

Mango harvesting in several Cuban provinces started in mid-May, with the fruit being sent to the Ceballos Citrus Co. in Ciego de Avila province for processing.

Jose Ricardo Conde, the firm's production manager, said his goal this season is to process all the fruit harvested in Matanzas, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Camaguey and Granma provinces.

Conde said the factory is ready to press over 3,000 metric tons of mangos, turning them into aseptic puree, part of which will be used for export.

The rest is to be used as raw material to make other products, including natural juices, nectars and marmalades to be sold at duty-free shops and for domestic consumption.

Compote is produced from the mango puree, which is given to children as part of their diet.

Cuba's Agriculture Ministry predicts this will be a good year for mango harvests, given that this crop requires a high temperature and dry climate, and so far conditions have been optimum.