Producers from the north of Espírito Santo (Brazil) are optimistic about the papaya price, with a lower offer. The farmers that are preparing to harvest, are helped by the heat.
Summer is not still there, but the days are getting hotter upstate with temperatures reaching 35°. The heat favors papaya production. Hot weather makes the papaya ripen faster and the fruit become a more yellow uniform color, have a better flavor and sweeten. All these features help the producer when negotiating sales prices in the market.
The area planted with papaya is 5,000 acres, the same as last year in northern Espírito Santo. Since the expected production was 360,000 tons, it will be reduced by 40%. The newer plants, still feel the effects of a wetter winter than normal.
The Espíritu Santo, comes second in the ranking because it produces 33% of the national harvest of papaya, after Bahía.