Mexico and Brazil were the world’s largest papaya exporters in 2023, followed by Guatemala, the United States and the Netherlands.

In that year, Mexican foreign sales of papaya were 123.7 million dollars, a year-on-year decrease of 1.4%, according to data from the Ministry of Economy.

Previously, exports of this fruit from Mexico grew from US$98.4 million in 2020 to US$115.4 million in 2021 and to US$125.4 million in 2022.

With an oval or elongated shape and with a skin that can be green when unripe and yellow or orange when ripe, papaya is widely recognized for its medical-intestinal qualities, in addition it is characterized by its contribution of vitamin A and C.

In subsequent positions, other major exporters of papayas were Brazil (53 million dollars), Guatemala (22 million), United States (20 million) and Netherlands (15 million).

Papaya is a melon-like fruit grown on the trunk of a single-stemmed tree that is cultivated in tropical regions.

This fruit can be consumed fresh or processed in slices, cubes, juices, smoothies, fruit salads, jams, pastes, nectar, canned in syrup or as an ingredient in various culinary recipes.

Papaya exporters

A distinctive feature of the papaya is the unusually high pH of the pulp, which ranges from 5.5 to almost 6.0 when ripe for eating.

While papaya can be of various sizes, from 300 grams to several kilograms, its flesh is a good source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, while the redder flesh is associated with more lycopene.

Globally, papaya exports totaled US$322 million in 2022, according to statistics from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Benefits

Papaya helps eliminate cholesterol, eliminates intestinal parasites and reduces menstrual cramps.

The fruit and leaf buds can be used as sedatives. Even the seeds have an important medicinal value.

The riper the papaya is, the sweeter it is, with a flavor reminiscent of both melon and mango.

Papaya is a tropical fruit that originated in Mexico, but is now grown in most of the world’s warm climates.

Papaya is one of the few fruits that can be eaten even unripe, as long as it is cooked.