Strong dollar affects price of Mexican papayas

The supply of papayas to the US remains stable, as it was a few months ago, although one trader notes that there are concerns about the effects of the weather in Mexico on the cultivation of this tropical fruit. "Lately we have seen changes. Every year the weather becomes more unpredictable and that is a big concern. One day you have 20-40 hectares and the next day you have nothing because you wake up and the rain has taken over," says Edgar Millan of Caraveo Papayas. This comes at a time when consumers continue to look for healthy options at the grocery store, a trend that has helped drive demand for papayas even in the face of shrinking consumer budgets. Papaya growers in Mexico have organized themselves into associations in order to be better and more strongly represented in the sector. Costs are falling At the same time, growers' input costs seem to be falling and stabilizing. “We've seen that in freight rates, which helps, especially in the Northeast,” says Millan. The main ...