Valencia Pride (mango)
Encyclopedia
The Valencia Pride mango is a named late season mango cultivar that originated in south Florida.
. The tree first fruited in 1941. A 2005 pedigree analysis estimated that 'Haden' was indeed the parent of 'Valencia Pride'. 'Valencia Pride' fruit was submitted for evaluation by the Florida Mango Forum and propagation was begun by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Zapaian of Miami.
'Valencia Pride' was recognized for its appearance, excellent production and eating qualities. Over the decades it was propagated throughout Florida both for home growing and commercial plantings. Today 'Valencia Pride' remains one of the more common nurserystock mangoes and is still grown on a limited commercial basis in Florida.
It has been selected as a 'Curator's Choice' mango by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
's International Mango Festival, most recently in 2009.
'Valencia Pride' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
, also in Homestead.
Valencia Pride trees are very vigorous growers and have a reputation as being among the fastest growing of the Florida mangoes. The trees are capable of growing in excess of 50 feet in height if left unpruned, with large and spreading canopies.
History
The original tree was reportedly grown from a Haden mango seed planted in 1937 on the property of Mrs. Charles Brown in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The tree first fruited in 1941. A 2005 pedigree analysis estimated that 'Haden' was indeed the parent of 'Valencia Pride'. 'Valencia Pride' fruit was submitted for evaluation by the Florida Mango Forum and propagation was begun by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Zapaian of Miami.
'Valencia Pride' was recognized for its appearance, excellent production and eating qualities. Over the decades it was propagated throughout Florida both for home growing and commercial plantings. Today 'Valencia Pride' remains one of the more common nurserystock mangoes and is still grown on a limited commercial basis in Florida.
It has been selected as a 'Curator's Choice' mango by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a botanic garden, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees and vines. It is located in metropolitan Miami, just south of Coral Gables, Florida, United States, surrounded at the south and west by Matheson...
's International Mango Festival, most recently in 2009.
'Valencia Pride' trees are planted in the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
Fruit and Spice Park
The Fruit and Spice Park is a botanical garden in metropolitan Miami at 24801 SW 187 Avenue, located in the rural agricultural community of the Redland, Florida, United States.-Exhibits:...
, also in Homestead.
Description
The fruit have a sigmoid shape that is long and slender, with a rounded base and rounded apex, and a large apical beak. The fruit is quite large and averages well over a pound at maturity, sometimes reaching 2 pounds. The skin is yellow with much of it typically covered in brilliant crimson blush. The flesh is yellow, nearly fiberless, firm and juicy, with a sweet flavor and aroma. It contains a monoembryonic seed in an enlongated husk. The fruit typically ripens from July to August in Florida, making it a late season cultivar. Fruit production is consistent and good, with the fruit being moderately fungus resistant.Valencia Pride trees are very vigorous growers and have a reputation as being among the fastest growing of the Florida mangoes. The trees are capable of growing in excess of 50 feet in height if left unpruned, with large and spreading canopies.