Mexico Sends First Mamey Shipment to UK After 2-Year Push

After more than two years of careful planning and strict quality checks, a Mexican orchard has shipped mamey to the United Kingdom for the very first time.

Huertas Magaña, a family-run farm in Akil, Yucatán, sent about two tonnes of the sweet tropical fruit across the Atlantic this week. The shipment marks a major win for the orchard founded over 50 years ago and for the more than 5,000 mamey producers across Yucatán state.

"It's quite a complicated job," said Julio Magaña, the orchard's marketing manager. Meeting Britain's tough phytosanitary standards required patience, precision, and plenty of problem-solving.

The mamey sapote, native to Mesoamerica, looks unassuming from the outside with its rough brown skin. But slice it open and you'll find vivid orange flesh that's creamy and sweet when perfectly ripe.

The challenge? The fruit bruises easily, making long-haul shipping tricky. Exporters spent months fine-tuning everything from packing temperatures to cushioning materials to ensure each mamey could survive the journey and arrive with unblemished flesh.

Yucatán grows mamey across its southern municipalities, especially in Akil, Oxkutzcab, Tekax, and Maní, where farmers cultivate roughly 3,000 hectares. The season runs from January through June, with peak harvest hitting between January and March.

The Ripple Effect

This UK shipment does more than introduce British shoppers to a new fruit. It strengthens Yucatán's position as Mexico's top mamey producer and adds Britain to an impressive list that already includes France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

"This shipment represents a historic step for Yucatecan agriculture," said Roger Góngora García, the state's deputy minister of investment, commerce and industry. "It demonstrates that the quality of our products can compete in the most demanding markets."

Mexico produces more mamey than any other country, growing the fruit across about 15 states. But Yucatán leads the pack in both planted area and yield, according to published agricultural data.

The success also reflects broader federal efforts to help small producers in southern Mexico compete globally. The Agriculture Ministry has been working to expand export protocols for tropical fruits, giving farmers new opportunities to reach international customers.

For Huertas Magaña, the journey continues as they work to position mamey in UK markets and build lasting demand for a fruit that's been growing in Mexican soil for thousands of years.