Mango Matt

Perhaps you have heard of Johnny Appleseed?

Mango Matt

It is time you learned of Mango Matt, a kind-hearted sort of individual. He was variously known as Mango Matt, Matthew Mangoseed, and Mangoseed Matt.

Mango Matt grew up reading tales of Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, and the like. Matt was especially fond of the concept of Johnny Appleseed, and wished to do something similiar to leave his mark on the world.

While a child of 5, Mango Matt ran away from home and obtained work on a cargo ship as a ship sweeper. For 47 years Matt roamed the world as a ship sweeper, and a very good one he was. He saved pretty much all of his $25 per month wages. Matt lived a simple life on board ship, his main pleasure was reading and rereading The Tales of Johnny Appleseed.

At the age of 41, Matt's ship docked in the Philippines and took on a cargo of mangos. Onboard the cook served mangos with most meals on this voyage to Alaska.  Matt grew to love mangos, and wished to share them with the world somehow.

One night while rereading the Tales of Johnny Appleseed  Matt had an inspiration.  Yes, and a fine one it was, at least in theory. He could take his life savings, and on the next trip to the Philippines purchase many mango seeds. Once he returned to the states he could live a life of Johnny Appleseed and forest  his homeland with mango trees!

Matt waited and waited, and finally in 1937 his ship returned to the Philippines where Matt purchased copious amounts of mango seeds.

The return trip from the Philippines was a direct one to the United States. While on this voyage (his final one), Matt spent his time reading and rereading his book The Tales of Johnny Appleseed for all the technical information he could gather. 



Matt at 116 Years of Age

Matt's ship docked in Superior, Wisconsin on June12th,1938. Bidding a fond farewell to his captain and crewmates , Matt entrusted his precious cargo of mango seeds to the dockworkers while he went in search of a truck to purchase.

Definitely in luck, Matt located a 1927 Visti Overland Express ton and a half truck for a reasonable price, which he promptly purchased. After filling the tank on his Visti, Matt hurried back to the dock to pick up his precious cargo.

Thus began the legend of Mango Matt.

Mango Matt wandered thoughout the United States, and occasionally into Canada.

Today's vast forests of mango trees throughout the United States can be accredited to Mango Matt. They bear fruit year round, due to Matt's incredible location strategy for planting seeds.

It may be hard to believe, but at one time it was impossible to go out in the middle of a Northwest Wisconsin winter and pick a fine juicy mango. We all owe Matt a debt of gratitude, and if by chance you see him, tell him "Thanks for the mango." It always makes his day to hear that.

These photos were taken in the fall of 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska after the annual Mango Festival. Although 116 years of age at the time of these photographs, Mango Matt is still in remarkable shape. We chatted with Matt a while, and he said he owes his fine life to mangos. Matt says his aging process quit when he switched to a 100% mango diet.