In the latter half of February, papaya prices in Brazil experienced a rise, with the increase varying across regions. The Hawaii 12-18 variety in the North of Espírito Santo saw a 12% increase, reaching R$ 4.23/kg. The Formosa variety in the South of Bahia rose by 8% to R$ 3.10/kg, and in the West of Bahia, it increased by 22% to R$ 3.33/kg. The price hike is attributed to lower papaya availability in producing areas. Despite the increased prices, there are early signs of demand slowing down due to the consistent price increases, which may lead to a stabilization or slight decrease in prices as February draws to a close.