Brooks (mango) facts for kids
The Brooks' mango (also known as Brooks Late) is a type of mango that ripens later in the year. It first grew in south Florida. This mango is important because it is a parent to many other popular mango types from Florida.
Quick facts for kids Mangifera 'Brooks' |
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Display of unripe Brooks mangoes at the Redland Summer Fruit Festival, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, Florida
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| Genus | Mangifera |
| Species | Mangifera indica |
| Cultivar | 'Brooks' |
| Origin | Florida, USA |
How Did the 'Brooks' Mango Start?
The very first 'Brooks' mango tree grew from a seed. This seed came from a 'Totapuri' mango, also known as 'Sandersha'. The seed was planted in 1910 by a person named Mr. Brooks in Miami, Florida.
Scientists later confirmed in 2005 that 'Sandersha' was indeed a parent of 'Brooks'. The tree first produced fruit in 1916. People started growing more 'Brooks' mango trees in 1924.
The 'Brooks' mango was the second type of mango from Florida to get its own name, after the 'Haden' mango. It became quite popular for selling in stores. Today, you can still find 'Brooks' mangoes grown for sale in Florida and in Africa.
This mango is also special because it is the parent of several other well-known Florida mangoes. These include the 'Kent', 'Sensation', 'Hatcher', and probably the 'Keitt' mangoes.
You can find 'Brooks' mango trees in special collections. These include the USDA's plant collection in Miami, Florida. They are also at the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center. Another place is the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park, both in Homestead, Florida. These places help protect and study different plant types.
What Does a 'Brooks' Mango Look Like?
The 'Brooks' mango fruit has an oval shape. It does not have a pointed tip, which some other mangoes do. When the fruit is ready to eat, its skin turns a green-yellow color.
Inside, the flesh of the mango is yellow. It has a medium amount of fiber. The taste is mild and sweet. Each 'Brooks' mango has one seed inside.
In Florida, these mangoes usually ripen from August to early October. This makes them a "late-season" mango, meaning they are ready later in the year compared to other types.
The 'Brooks' mango trees do not grow very tall. They usually stay under 20 feet in height. They also have an "open canopy," which means their branches are spread out and not very dense.
