Hawai'i papaya production fell in April as growers dealt with the impact of disease and insect investation on their crops.

Papaya production totaled 2.5 million pounds for the month, down 3 percent from March, and down 4 percent from April 2008, according to the local office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
"Disease, insect infestation, poor fruit quality and weed growth were evident in some orchards exposed to higher rainfall in March," the NASS said. However, the rainfall did help new plantings, and more sunny periods later in the month helped crop progress, the agency added.
Growers received 45 cents per pound of fresh papaya in April, 3 cents less than in March, and 6 cents more than a year earlier.