Out of the 600+ varieties grown here in Florida, I’ve tried close to 200 of them so far. Hi! I’m Rheyna aka the mango goddess, queen of PlantLife850, hunter of fruits, grower of plants, harvester of carbon, and mother of cats.

My love for mangoes started when I was a little girl. That fire was fueled up when I watched the Fruit Hunters documentary in 2013. The documentary exposed Florida’s tropical fruit culture, especially mangoes. Noris Ledesma and Richard Campbell were the two horticulturists working with the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens to increase the diversity of mangoes here in Florida. I didn’t look at my phone and hardly moved as I sat and watched this documentary before me. I was in awe of the wonderful fruits we can grow here in Florida. Mangoes have my heart. My mother is from the Philippines so we know mangoes well. Since 2013, I have attended the annual mango festival six times at the Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida. Meeting and becoming friends with Noris Ledesma has been a highlight of my career as I admire her involvement and work in this field.

Since 2013, I have been working with soil and plants that grow food. I specialize in edible and medicinal plants, particularly fruiting plants. Learning about the fruit culture of Florida got me excited to experiment. While I haven’t fruited any mango trees of my own yet, I have bought and sold trees throughout the Florida panhandle along with many other kinds of plants. I have a food forest in my backyard that has been growing since 2020. 

The dream that sparked from a single documentary has now grown into a full-fledged mission: to bring the diverse and rich flavors of Florida’s mangoes to tables across the country. My online store, Dragonstone Harvest, is a testament to this journey. Here, I offer the finest selection of Florida mangoes, each handpicked and packed with care, ensuring that you get to experience the same joy and wonder that mangoes have brought to my life.

My journey has not only been about personal growth but also community impact. I am passionate about sustainable agriculture and educating others on the importance of locally grown, nutritious food. Through convergences and social media, I've shared my knowledge and love for permaculture, hoping to inspire a new generation of fruit enthusiasts and eco-conscious growers.

I invite you to join me in this flavorful adventure, where each mango tells a story of tradition, passion, and tropical bliss. Let’s savor the sweetness together and spread the mango love far and wide!