US: Papaya consumer popularity prompts university trial for commercial expansion

University of Florida scientists want to help South Florida farmers increase their economic returns when growing papaya to meet consumer demands and enhance their competitive edge domestically and internationally. That’s why they embarked on a trial to find new varieties that grow well in South Florida and that possess valuable traits for future breeding work. Some of these new types included ‘solo’ type papayas that historically have not been widely grown in southern Florida. “This research is timely as growers are looking for higher-value crops that resonate with consumers,” said Alan Chambers, a tropical plant geneticist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). “Additionally, consumers are looking for novel fruit and fruit with superior quality.” The results just released in Scientia Horticulturae, take a close look at 21 papaya varieties ripe for growing in South Florida for fruit quality, aroma, plant height and yield components. ...