For better or for worse, Miami mango season has started. Fruit is popping up on menus, in grocery stores, at farmers’ markets, on your neighbor’s trees. This year is what experts are calling a “decent” though not bumper season year for mangoes. Remember that cold snap in late January and early February, when you actually had to put socks on? It had an effect on the fruit trees, according to Jeff Wasielewski of University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension in Miami-Dade County.
“The freeze/frost killed embryos of young fruit,” he said. “The prolonged dry weather caused powdery mildew which burned off flowers and young fruit. The quick bout of cool weather and rain after the dry spell caused Alternaria, which caused fruit to turn black and die.”
That said, 2026 isn’t shaping up to be quite as bleak as 2024’s season of scarcity. Roberto Grossman of Tiny Farm isn’t terribly worried: “It’s a decent year, not huge for mangoes,” he says. “A lot of the flowers dropped with the freezing temps. But I do see a decent amount of mangoes on the trees.”
We have heard rumors that there are locals with questionable taste who do not care for the fruit, but let’s not think about them. Let’s think about the ways we can enjoy mangoes this summer.
For the fourth year, Zak the Baker in Wynwood is doing its Mango Trade throughout June. Here’s the deal: Head to the bakery and trade your excess fruit for a loaf of Zak Stern’s bread (the going rate for 2026 is five mangoes per loaf). The fruit ends up in all sorts of baked goods, so you can always return to see what Zak has done with your produce.
Last year, more than 1,500 pounds of mangoes were traded for 259 loaves.
Location: 295 NW 26th St, Miami; visit zakthebaker.com.
The 32nd annual gathering of the fruit-loving faithful is the epicenter of mango tomfoolery in Miami, with more than 400 kinds of mangoes, seminars, tequila and chocolate pairings, tree sales, kids’ activities and vendors.
More info at fairchildgarden.org.
Broward’s only mango-related festival kicks off at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, which is hosting a Father’s Day extravaganza with mango sommelier tastings, Caribbean chef demos, vendors, workshops, music, a mango auction and a mango-eating contest for dads.
Info: www.charlesfdodgecitycenter.com/events or 954-392-9480.
Growing up in Cuba, Natalia Martinez-Kalinina watched her grandmother give away pails full of mangoes to her neighbors. Now, Martinez-Kalinina is honoring her memory by baking mango pies and selling them through her Instagram account.
Martinez-Kalinina hasn’t started baking yet: “I’m waiting for there to be a flush of mangoes available; so far local mangoes haven’t been 100 percent out and about,” she says. But once the fruit ripens, the pies — described by one fan as “the best pie I’ve ever had” — will be available for order. Follow her at @sunnysliceco on Instagram; no phone calls accepted.
Through July 15, participating Vicky Bakery locations will be offering a special summer mango menu, with mango pastelitos, arroz con mango cups, mango milk cake and cake cups and a mango refresquito topped with cold foam. There’s even mango pico de gallo to slather on pork and chicken sandwiches.
Starting June 15, you can try a limited edition mango cookie at the Ecuadorian bistro and bakery Casa Nané in Brickell. The cookie features fresh and dried mango as well as toasted coconut and white chocolate and, we suspect, goes well with a cafecito (then again, doesn’t everything?)
Location: 1130 SW Second Ave., Miami.
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