The produce industry was rarely featured on one of my favorite shows as a kid: Unwrapped with Marc Summer. Perhaps an odd choice for a young girl, but I loved watching products come into being, and this consumer desire to know where our food originates is still going strong 20 years later.
So when Gary Clevenger, Managing Member of Freska Produce International, and I sat down to discuss the company’s organic dried mangos, I knew they were the perfect candidate for an Unwrapped episode, produce-style.
A golden sun rises over lush mango orchards. Rows of towering trees sway gently in the breeze, and the air is thick with the sweet aroma of ripening mangos. Each fruit dangles from the tree like a tempting piece of candy, warmed by the tropical sun.
This fruit is not just any fruit. They’ve been carefully grown and hand-picked at peak ripeness, and they’re about to become dried mangos—made with no added sugars and no preservatives. Just nature’s sweetness, dried to perfection.
But how does a gorgeous item like Freska’s organic dried mangos travel from tree to market?
“Our mangos come from organic-certified farms, where farmers cultivate their trees using traditional and sustainable methods,” Gary is quick to fill me in. “No synthetic pesticides, no artificial fertilizers—just fertile soil, clean water, and the careful touch of expert growers who have nurtured mango orchards for generations.”
It’s not hard to imagine why the vibrant picture he paints is one that would capture the hearts of retail partners and consumers alike.
But there’s yet another reason why Freska Produce’s dried mangos are a cut above.
“Unlike many conventional dried mango brands that use unripe or slightly sour mangos and add sugar to compensate, we do things differently,” he notes. “We wait. We let our mangos fully ripen under the sun, developing their natural sugars and rich flavor. Only when they reach peak sweetness—vibrant, juicy, and bursting with tropical goodness—are they ready to be harvested.”
Gary has made it his mission to bring the freshest and best-quality mangos to market since founding the company with fellow Managing Member Jesus “Chuy” Loza 20 years ago.
The decision to add organic dried mangos to the company’s portfolio was not one taken lightly, as both Gary and Chuy wanted to create a program that would benefit the company’s grower partners as well as its customers. Through their efforts, they helped create a dried product able to compete with a number-one-graded, retail-ready fresh product.
“Our growers handpick each mango, selecting only the finest fruits—ones with the perfect balance of firmness and ripeness,” Gary elaborates. “Once picked, they are transported to our processing facility within hours to ensure maximum freshness.”
Depending on where harvest is taking place, the supplier has packing houses in several locations across Mexico that are operational at different times of the year.
“Before drying begins, each mango undergoes a careful inspection. Bruised or underripe mangos don’t make the cut. Only the best fruits, packed with natural sweetness and rich in vitamins, move forward in the process,” Gary says.
As consumer affinity for dried mangos continues to grow, Freska Produce knows its dedication to bringing only the best fruit to market will pay off.
Throughout our conversation, Gary emphasizes that many dried mango products rely on sugar, sulfites, or artificial preservatives to enhance color and flavor. As you might have guessed, this isn’t how Freska Produce operates.
“We believe in a different approach,” Gary asserts, “one that lets the fruit shine in its purest form.”
Here’s why my aforementioned love for Unwrapped shines through, as Gary walks me through the drying process necessary to create the soft yet meaty texture of a perfect dried mango.
"Only the best fruits, packed with natural sweetness and rich in vitamins, move forward in the process."
Gary Clevenger, Managing Member, Freska Produce International
“Our mangos are peeled, sliced, and placed into state-of-the-art drying ovens at a low temperature. This slow-drying process removes moisture while locking in the fruit’s naturally rich taste and chewy texture. No sugar is added because when mangos are this perfectly ripe, they don’t need it,” Gary explains.
Mass-produced dried mangos can become tough or fibrous, creating an eating experience that might turn off consumers looking for a convenient and healthy snack.
“Our careful drying method ensures a soft, tender bite, bringing out the full-bodied flavor that makes each piece taste like a bite of sunshine,” Gary promises.
At its core, Freska Produce’s dried organic mango program is a sustainable endeavor. By utilizing 100 percent of the fruit, the supplier has helped facilitate a boon for the category’s growth that both retailers and foodservice operators can take advantage of.
“We take pride in producing mangos that are not only delicious but also responsibly made,” Gary impresses upon me. “Our zero-waste approach ensures that every part of the mango is used—pits and peels are composted or repurposed, and we prioritize eco-friendly packaging.”
When sharing program differentiators with shoppers, sustainability—or the lack thereof—can be a dealbreaker. Freska Produce’s dried mango program leads with Fair Trade Certified™ practices that it and its growers steadily adhere to.
“From farm to snack bag, our dried mangos represent organic farming, ethical sourcing, and a deep respect for nature,” Gary asserts.
The journey from mango tree to dried mango snack is one of patience, passion, and purity, one that Gary has firmly impressed upon me. When you open a bag of Freska’s dried mangos, you’re not just tasting a fruit—you’re experiencing the essence of the tropics, exactly as nature intended.
No shortcuts. No sugar. Just the sweet, sun-ripened goodness of real mango.
So, do you want to take a bite? 
