Updated at 11:18 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2007
Hawaii papaya production up 53% in October
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i papaya production rose 53 percent in October to an estimated 3.3 million pounds compared with the same month a year earlier.Cumulative sales for the first ten months of 2007 totaled 23.9 million pounds, up 10 percent higher than the comparable period in 2006, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Harvested area totaled 1,375 acres, up 4 percent from the same time last year.
Papaya growers received 37 cents a pound for fresh fruit in October, unchanged from September, but down from 38 cents a pound in October 2006.
"October weather was beneficial for papaya orchard growth and development," the NASS said in a news release. Young orchards continued to make favorable progress. Mature trees had full fruit columns and harvesting was active."
