Slicing Into the Stats: How the US Became the Papaya Capital of the World

Image Source: Island Scene

If you’ve ever wondered where all those papayas in your grocery store come from, you’re not alone. It turns out, the United States is the world’s biggest papaya importer by a long shot.

Here’s what’s interesting about the papaya trade:

The US imports around 200,000 tonnes of fresh papaya every year. That’s more than ten times what most other countries bring in.
More than half of the world’s papaya imports end up in the US. No other country comes close to this level of demand.
Most of these papayas come from Mexico, which is conveniently close and has the right climate for growing papayas year-round. Guatemala and Brazil also supply a good amount.
Canada and Singapore are next on the list, but their papaya imports are much smaller compared to the US.

Americans’ love for papaya is fueled by a mix of health trends, a diverse population, and the easy availability of fresh produce from neighboring countries.

In the US, papayas are popular in supermarkets, restaurants, and juice bars, and they’re a staple in many Latin American and Asian communities.

Other importers like Germany, Portugal, the UK, and Spain buy papayas too, but their numbers are nowhere near what the US brings in.

With demand still growing, it looks like the US will keep its spot as the world’s top papaya importer for years to come.

So next time you slice into a papaya, there’s a good chance it made quite a journey—most likely from Mexico to a store near you.

Source: OEC, EastFruit, IFAS, Volza, ITFNet