USDA is required to administer a continuation referendum for the National Mango Board (NMB) every five years. This means that eligible mango industry members get to decide if the program should continue.
This year, members of the mango industry will have a chance to vote, during the 2020 Referendum, which will be held on September 21-October 9, 2020. Importers and first handlers who handled 500,000 pounds of fresh mangos or more OR 200,000 lbs. or more of frozen mango in the 2019 calendar year are eligible to vote. Everyone who is eligible to vote will receive a ballot from USDA.
If you have any questions about the referendum, please contact Marlene Betts at (202) 720-5057 or Marlene.Betts@usda.gov.
Please click here to see the complete notice in the Federal Register.
The NMB works hard to measure each program from media outreach to foodservice promotions, secondary displays at retail, as well as results from quality research.
The NMB measures the FOB value of the mango industry. From 2005 to 2019, the FOB value of mango imports increased 142% from $262 million in 2005 to $635 million in 2019.
Mango demand on the rise due in part to the NMB
The NMB works with Dr. Ronald Ward, Emeritus Professor of agricultural economics at the University of Florida, to analyze the impact of the NMB programs on at-home mango purchases. From Feb 2013 to June 2019, the impact of the NMB programs was $508 million at the FOB level. This is 22% of the total FOB value during the same time.
The National Mango Board (NMB) is a national promotion and research organization, supported by assessments from domestic and imported mangos. The NMB was formed under federal legislation, referred to as the Act. Specifically, it is the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996(7 U.S.C. 7411-7425), plus any amendments thereto. The NMB Order is authorized under the Act, but it is specific to the NMB. The Order is issued by the USDA under section 514 of the Act. The Order outlines the Board structure and rules of conduct which govern how the NMB operates.
The board’s mission is to increase consumption of mangos in the U.S. through innovative research and promotional activities, while fostering a thriving industry. The NMB works toward this mission through three core components; Marketing, Research and Industry Relations.
Assessments are collected on whole fresh mango at the rate of ¾ cent per pound. The assessments on imported mango are collected at the border via U.S. Customs, while assessments on domestically grown mango should be paid directly to the NMB. U.S. mango industry members who grow or handle fewer than 500,000 lbs. of fresh mango in a particular year may be eligible for an exemption from paying assessments. Click here to learn more about assessments and exemptions.
Mango industry members serve on the NMB board of directors, representing the interests of the industry and providing direction to the NMB staff. The board members approve all programs, projects and budgets. The staff is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. The NMB is made up of fresh mango importers, a first handler, domestic producers and foreign producers, who dedicate themselves to the mission, goals and objectives of the NMB.
The NMB does not have the authority to control mango volumes or mandate quality standards. The NMB does not interfere in any way with the mango market and is not directly able to impact price. The NMB does not advocate for or against any particular quarantine treatments. The role of the NMB is to support the industry in its efforts to provide quality mango and educate U.S. consumers.