“I think that strong demand comes from the taste,” said Amos Orr of Aviv. “There is the convenience of it being seedless, but that's not good enough if there isn't any taste there.” The variety comes from the breeder Assaf Avizohar, and it's sold incredibly well since Aviv began growing and exporting it. While most demand has come from Europe, the fruit has also seen demand from Asia and North America. In fact, it's been so popular that Orr believes growers will have to expand their growing operation to accommodate the response. However for the moment they can only sell it in Europe, as volumes are limited.
“Luckily, we will have more volumes coming from new plantations that will mature in the fall, and we expect growers to plant more in the summer,” said Orr. “It will take some time for us to catch up with the high demand for this papaya.” Prices for the Aurora skew higher than most varieties, and though Orr notes that they can't compete with tropical countries on price, the superior taste of the Aurora allows them to get higher-end consumers.
“The Aurora flesh is firm, and the taste is well balanced,” said Orr. “So we expect that our variety will get better prices than regular varieties.”
For more information:
Amos Or
Aviv
amosor@aviv-flower.co.il