The 'Fairchild' mango.
Campbell R. J., Campbell C. W.
Author Affiliation: Fairchild Tropical Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156, USA.
Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society : 220-221
Abstract : The 'Fairchild' mango (Mangifera indica) was selected in the early 1900s in Panama. The name was given in honour of David Fairchild's family. It was introduced to Hawaii in the 1920s and developed into a local favourite for the home garden and local marketing due to its superior flavour and heavy production under rainy, humid conditions. In Panama, 'Fairchild' is grown on a small commercial scale for local sale. The fruits are small, ranging in weight from 180 to 240 g, with an average of 200 g. They are oblong with a flattened base and a bluntly-pointed apex. The surface of the skin is often undulating, but the fruit shape is consistent. The fruits are greenish to lemon yellow with no blush. The skin is thin and tender. The orange flesh is juicy, with a sweet, rich, aromatic and spicy flavour. 'Fairchild' has ranked among the top 5 in public cultivar taste evaluations (> 3000 people) in the past 3 years at the Fairchild International Mango Festival. The fruits ripen in June and July in South Florida. The tree often produces multiple blooms and crops. The trees and fruits are tolerant of anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) [Glomerella cingulata], but can be severely infected by powdery mildew (Oidium mangiferae). The production potential in humid, rainy conditions is excellent, making it well suited for home garden and local commercial production in South Florida. The tree is compact, attractive and can be maintained at a height and spread of 3 m or less, while bearing heavy, excellent-quality crops.