Does anyone know of the Mango Forum? I heard about it used to be a group in south Florida that traveled around Florida sampling and "judging" different mangos. Any interest in re-forming such a group?
The Florida Mango Forum was the source for much of the popularization of the mango in Florida and for many years served as a venue by which new mango cultivars were introduced and publicized. Many old documents originating from its annual proceedings can be found in the FSHS archives.
It thrived in the 40s, probably reaching its peak in the 50s, then began to decline as a lot of its founding members died off and lack of interest, along with a decline in the commercial mango industry in Florida, finally did it in in the 1980s. It still technically existed on paper 10 years ago but its remaining members mostly put their efforts into the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida, and Fairchild had taken on the mantle of its original general purpose about a decade before anyways.
I have at times mulled its re-establishment but question its necessity as of now; it would be running against Fairchild Mango Festival and the traditionally adjoining Grower's Conference, along with the various other mango festivals already held in Florida during the summer.