This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = papaya(GDF v2.0, 3165 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Papaya |
| Scientific name | Carica papaya |
| Family / Genus | Caricaceae / Carica |
| Produce category | Tropical Fruit |
| Produce subcategory | Large Tropical Fruit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4051 |
| PLU — organic | 94051 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_5576 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 45.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maradol | 35% | Large elongated fruit (3-5 lbs), reddish-orange flesh, excellent shipping quality, vigorous plant, dioecious, consistent producer, sweet flavor with firm texture |
| Red Lady | 25% | Hermaphrodite variety, medium-sized fruit (1.5-2.5 lbs), deep red-orange flesh, high sugar content (12-14° Brix), uniform shape, excellent for fresh market, PRSV tolerance |
| Solo (Hawaiian Solo) | 15% | Small pear-shaped fruit (1-2 lbs), yellow-orange flesh, sweet mild flavor, thin skin, hermaphrodite, excellent eating quality, standard Hawaii variety |
| Sunrise (Solo Sunrise) | 8% | Small pear-shaped fruit (1-1.5 lbs), bright orange-red flesh, very sweet (13-14° Brix), hermaphrodite, premium eating quality, Hawaii origin |
| Tainung No. 2 | 7% | Medium fruit (1.5-2.5 lbs), red flesh, PRSV resistant, hermaphrodite, consistent production, good shelf life, Taiwanese breeding |
| Rainbow (SunUp x Kapoho) | 5% | Small fruit (1-1.5 lbs), yellow-orange flesh, genetically modified for PRSV resistance, hermaphrodite, Hawaii developed, consistent quality |
| Kapoho | 2% | Small pear-shaped fruit (12-16 oz), yellow-orange flesh, sweet flavor, thin skin, hermaphrodite, Hawaii standard, susceptible to PRSV |
| Formosa | 2% | Large elongated fruit (3-6 lbs), orange-red flesh, firm texture, good for shipping, dioecious, Mexican/Central American markets |
| Waimanalo | 1% | Medium pear-shaped fruit (1.5-2 lbs), orange-yellow flesh, good flavor, hermaphrodite, Hawaii breeding, moderate shelf life |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 45°F.
- Freezing point: 29.4°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_high |
| Production rate (20°C) | 50 μL/kg·h typical (10–150) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 100 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Papaya responds well to exogenous ethylene treatment (100-150 ppm for 24-48h at 68-77°F) to induce uniform ripening. Treatment commonly used for fruit harvested at mature-green stage. Do NOT store with ethylene-sensitive vegetables or non-climacteric fruits.
Mixed-load compatibility
tropical_high_ethylene_producer
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily; 4-6% annual increase driven by Hispanic population growth, health consciousness, and increased availability year-round
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.85 |
| Income elasticity | 1.2 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.45 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Maradol | 65% |
| Solo (Hawaiian) | 20% |
| Tainung | 8% |
| Red Lady | 5% |
| Other | 2% |
Pack sizes
- 10 lb flat (8-12 count)
- 12 lb flat (6-10 count)
- 20 lb box (12-18 count)
- 25 lb carton (assorted sizes)
- Single fruit clamshell (retail)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.