Brazilian papayas set for crop recovery

Volume should pick up during late summer when production gets back on track following poor weather conditions

Brazilian papaya imports are anticipated to bounce back to their pre-winter level by September with a strong deal set to shape the remainder of 2009, following lower-than-expected volume in July caused by inclement weather conditions in Brazil.

“Quality remains very good, but production hit a low in July due to the cold temperatures during the winter and previously strong rainfall during the Brazilian summer at the beginning of the 2009,” Melissa Hartmann de Barros, director of communications at HLB Tropical Food, told Fruitnet.com.

“We should see an increase in production by August and we expect imports to return to pre-winter volume by September,” Ms de Barros explained. “Starting in October, volume should be very strong, which will compensate for the weak volumes we saw during the first half of the year.”

Demand for Brazilian papayas is stable in Europe, with prices currently ranging around €5.50 (+/- €1), depending on quality, appearance and availability.

In the US, demand and prices for Brazilian papayas are also very stable, with prices reaching around US$10.00 (+/- US$1).