Papaya is a popular tropical fruit in Latin America and increasingly in demand in the United States, which has boosted the growth of the industry in both regions. In Latin America, countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic are the main producers and exporters of papaya, providing an important source of income and contributing to the development of local economies in these countries.
In the United States, papaya is an increasingly popular product, with demand steadily growing in recent years. Most papayas imported to the United States come from Mexico, followed by Guatemala and Brazil; however, there is also local production of papaya in Hawaii.
Volume of papaya imported by the United States
In 2022, the U.S. market imported 233,728 tons of fresh papaya, a growth of 5.8% compared to 2021 and a massive increase of 26.4% compared to 2020.
Mexico is the leading supplier of papayas to the United States, with 198,639 tons in 2022, representing 85% of total U.S. imports. The above graph shows that Mexican imports occur throughout the year, with the lowest volumes in October, November and December.
Guatemala, in second place, accounted for 13%, with 30,690 tons. This is a decline from 2021, when it shipped 32,021 tons, and 2020 when the total US export volume was 38,322 tons.
Source: producepay.com
