Post-harvest handling of papaya

Abstract from "Focus on Papaya" The NAMDEVCO Marketplace, August 1999, Vol. 2 No. 1, pgs. 4 & 5
by Dr. Khalel Mohoyodeen and Govind Seepersad.

A survey conducted by the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) to determine the quality of papaya offered for sale on the local market revealed that the majority of fruits were of poor quality and did not meet the minimum requirements based on the draft standard for papaya. The major problems were physical injury, the presence of diseases and over ripe fruits. It is therefore important for personnel involved in the production, transport and marketing of papaya to appreciate the importance of quality and to adopt the following practices to ensure that consumers obtain high quality produce.

- Harvest papaya when the first yellow streak appears on the skin.
- Harvest fruits by cutting the peduncle (stem which attaches the fruit to the plant) with a knife or secateur. The peduncle of fruits intended for the local market should be cut about three inches long, while fruits intended for the export market should be trimmed flush to the fruit, as this is one of the minimum requirements for the entry of fruits into the North American and European Markets.
- Transport fruits from the field to the pack-house as quickly as possible.
- When handling fruits at the pack-house, place them in a cool dry area that is well ventilated and ensure that the surface on which the papayas are placed is smooth and properly sanitised.
- Wash sorted and graded fruits in clean water to remove debris and foreign material.
- In order to minimise diseases, treat papayas with hot water at 47° C for 20 minutes followed by cooling.
- The display of fruits by hanging them from strings helps to reduce physical injury since the fruits are kept in a suspended position during ripening.
- Fruits intended for export are handled in a similar manner to those intended for the local market however; the packaging requirement is different and is usually specified by the importer. Each cartoon intended for export, must bear the following: name and address or officially issued or accepted code mark; nature of the produce; country and place of origin; class and size code (optional).

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