Papaya Production in Australia (2019)

Overview

Papaya is considered to be a tropical fruit that is abundantly found in Australia. The production of this fruit mainly occurs in the North of Australia and in some other regions in the Northern Territory.

Statistics

1. A total of 14,921 tonnes of papayas for produced in this year. The total valuation was estimated at $27.5 million.
2. The supply per capita was estimated at 584 grams, based on the volume that was supplied.
3. While on their shopping trip, 18% of Australian households bought fresh red and yellow papaya. This amount to an average of 737 grams per shopping trip.

Major Papaya Production Areas

Red and yellow papayas are predominantly available in the northern Australian states. Some of the major producing areas are Mareeba and Tully, located in Queensland.

Health Benefits

These vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Diets high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it’s more likely to create blockages that lead to heart disease. 

These vegetables have folic acid, which is essential for converting the amino acid homocysteine into less harmful amino acids. High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid primarily found in meat products, are a risk factor for heart disease. So eating this vegetable in the daily diet diet may lower homocysteine levels, reducing this risk factor.

Categories of Papayas

There are two main categories of these vegetables that are found in Australia. There are:

1. Red papaya, which accounts for 65% of the fresh production.
2. Yellow papaya, which makes up for 35% of the fresh production.

Fresh Papaya International Trade

Australia is predominantly a net importer of fresh red and yellow papaya. This country typically imports around 20-300 tonnes of this fruit per year. As of June 2019, Australia has managed to import 40 tonnes.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)