Produce
Mangoes
The thick peel that gets discarded keeps mango residue evidence in the lower half of the table, and the flesh is one of the better sources of vitamin A in the fruit aisle. This is a food where conventional is a defensible budget choice.
Organic upgrade priority
Conventional is a reasonable budget choice
Score 7/100 · about $3.00 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 31/100 against 17/100 for organic — a 14-point difference.
- →At about 2.3 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 31/100
- Moderate residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 72/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $1.69
- per each · organic +59%
- Servings a week
- 2.3
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 678
- Conventional, 2017–2018 · 30 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional mangoes
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 678 | 30 |
| Program years | 2017–2018 | 2017–2018 |
| Samples with any residue | 56% | 33% |
| Mean residues per sample | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 31/100 | 17/100 |
| Typical price | $1.69 / each | $2.69 / each |
Nutrition
Per 1 cup sliced (165 g).
99
calories
1.4 g
protein
2.6 g
fiber
22.5 g
sugar
- Vitamin C 67% DV
- Vitamin A 20% DV
- Folate 18% DV
How to wash mangoes
Rinse and dry before peeling so the knife does not carry surface material into the flesh. The peel contains urushiol — the compound in poison ivy — which is why some people react to handling it.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Frozen mango chunks are cheaper year-round than fresh and skip the awkward pit entirely.
- ◆Ataulfo (honey) mangoes are smaller, less fibrous, and ripen to a wrinkled gold — wrinkles here mean ready, not old.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic mangoes?
Probably not, if money is tight. Mangoes indexes 31/100 on relative residue evidence against 17/100 for organic — a difference small enough that the same dollars buy far more on leafy greens or berries.
›Are mangoes high in pesticides?
Mangoes shows moderate residue evidence — an index of 31/100 relative to other commodities. Across 678 conventional samples from 2017–2018, 56% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 0.9 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.44% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic mangoes cost?
About 59% more at typical U.S. retail — $1.69 per each conventional against $2.69 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $3.00 a week.
›How should I wash mangoes?
Rinse and dry before peeling so the knife does not carry surface material into the flesh. The peel contains urushiol — the compound in poison ivy — which is why some people react to handling it.
Related foods
Blackberries
$3.49 / 6 oz container · organic $4.99
Avocados
$1.49 / each · organic $2.29
Strawberries
$4.29 / 1 lb container · organic $6.49
Blueberries
$3.99 / 11 oz container · organic $5.79