Fairchild

This mango was selected in the Panama Canal Zone in the early 1900s, and was a favorite of David Fairchild and his family, after whom it was named. It was probably a hybrid between a Saigon-type mango and an Indian variety, as it possesses indochinese characteristics but is monoembryonic. A DNA analysis in Japan has indicated Alphonso may have been one of its parents and this would have been possible as Alphonso was already introduced to the Western Hemisphere at that time and Fairchild's foliage does resemble Alphonso's.

 

It was first introduced to the US via Hawaii in 1926, and later to Florida by David Fairchild in 1936 but did not receive propagation. In the 1990s it was re-introduced to Florida by Carl Campbell and ultimately promoted by his son Richard for its value as a back yard tree, where it has become a popular variety. It can be still found in Panama today, under other names.

 

Fairchild fruit are small, oblong-ovoid in shape and begin to turn yellow at maturity.

 

They have a fiberless flesh with a somewhat large seed, and have a citrusy flavor when regular ripe. They should be allowed to turn a bronze-color when they achieve their full flavor and sweetness, best described as an Indochinese hybrid class flavor. 

 

The trees have a low growth habit that makes them very manageable. Their disease resistance is excellent as well, although stem-end rot can be an issue for the fruit at times. Production ranges from fair to good.

 

Fairchild is an early-to-mid season mango in Florida typically ripening from June to July. At this point we believe Fairchild is very resistant to mango bacterial black spot disease.

This is an excellent variety for backyard growers seeking a smallish (though not a true dwarf) tree with excellent disease resistance qualities and may be a good choice for people with limited space inadequate for a large tree. It is well-suited for marginal interior/humid areas of Florida.