Dried mango is one of our best selling products by volume, especially popular with the under 5 age group! It’s also the perfect snack for a hike.

Where do we get it from?

Our wholesaler is Infinity foods, they are a leading supplier of bulk organic, vegetarian and fair trade products. However the mangos’ story goes a bit further than their offices in Shoreham-by-sea!

The importer of our mango is Gebana, a fair trade pioneer, established as processor and exporter in Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Brazil and Paraguay. They work directly with family farmers and control the whole supply chain from farmer to market. This approach enables them to create a transparent and sustainable business day by day.

They invest into infrastructure, staff welfare and management taking high and long term risks instead of just trading. Their goal is to build independent and sustainable businesses in developing countries.

Production in Burkina Faso

Drying is the best way to preserve this seasonal fruit with a short shelf life and, at the same time, add value to the local production. Since the year 2000 Gebana Burkina Faso has produced around 460 metric tonnes of dried mango a year.

The peak season for mango in Burkina Faso starts in March and ends in July. The incoming mango is peeled and sliced manually.

Fruit pieces are then put on grids and dried in gas ovens at 70°C for 20-24 hours. These must be rotated every two hours to ensure even drying.

After cooling, the dried fruit pieces are cut into shape as required. The pieces then pass through quality control and are packaged in a protective atmosphere.

In addition to their own production line, mango is sourced from 20 local producers. They dry the fruit on site before delivering it to Gebana for quality control and packaging. Through the integration of these small businesses and other cooperatives, another 700 family farmers and 2000 seasonal workers have gained access to the value chain.

At Gebana Burkina Faso, the mangoes are loaded into a shipping container - about 20 tons of dry mangoes. Once sealed, it will only be reopened in the Netherlands. The container is transported by rail to the Abidjan port in Ivory Coast, where it is loaded directly onto a ship. After two to three weeks at sea, the container arrives in Rotterdam or Antwerp and is brought to the Gebana warehouse in the Netherlands.

Ecological and social impact

Gebana buys mango from farmer groups and cooperatives. Partial pre-financing of the harvest helps the producers financially and guarantees that their product will be sold. Gebana organises and accompanies organic and FLO certification. Farmers are also guaranteed technical support. The company and farmers are certified organic by Ecocert and Certisys. Furthermore, Gebana Burkina Faso and part of the supplying farmer cooperatives are Fairtrade certified by FLO International.

All farmer families benefit from organic prices for their products. FLO-certified producer groups receive an additional Fairtrade premium. Most recently, this money has been invested in scholarships for the poorest families, a contribution to the community health centre as well as in farming by buying material and seedlings for its members.

Beyond certifications, Gebana works permanently on improving ecological sustainability. Research on solar and biogas technologies as well as composting and improvement of energy use in processing are constantly ongoing.

The economic activities of Gebana generate income for thousands of families in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world. By investing in local infrastructure, Gebana is making a long-term contribution and shares all risks that may affect production.

Nutrition information

Per 100g (approx 6-8 pieces)

303 cals
72g carbs
7.7g fibre
2.2g protein

Uses & recipe ideas

Perfect snack for hiking, train trip or an office afternoon slump.

Any recipe that calls for dried fruit.

Price comparison

As of October 2021

Get Loose Foods £18.00/kg (£1.80 per 100g)
Holland & Barret £21.90/KG (£2.19 per 100g)
Tesco (not Organic) £15/kg (£1.50 per 100g)
Sainsburys (not organic) £22.50/kg (£2.25 per 100g)