O‘ahu Fresh

  • Sign Up
  • This Week’s Newsletter
  • Member Login
  • How It Works
    • Produce Bag Options
    • Delivery Areas
    • Online Marketplace
    • Wholesale
    • FAQs
    • Gift Certificates
  • Producers
  • This Week’s Bag
    • Cooking In Quarantine
    • Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Latest Newsletter
  • About Us
    • Oahu Food Hub
  • Local Agriculture
    • Resources for Farmers
    • Hawaii Food & Farmers Series

This Week’s Bag Featuring Papaya! – September 3rd, 2018

September 3, 2018 by Diane O'Neal

papaya (1)

Papaya is native to the tropics of the Americas in the regions of southern Mexico and Central America. The papaya is a tree-like plant that can grow over 30 feet tall. The fruit is a type of berry and when ripe it feels soft and the skin turns an amber to orange hue.

Papaya plants grow in three sexes: male, female, and hermaphrodite. The male produces only pollen, never fruit. The female will produce small, inedible fruits unless pollinated. The hermaphrodite can self-pollinate because its flowers contain both male stamens and female ovaries. As a result almost all commercial papaya orchards contain only hermaphrodite papaya plants.

In 1998, in response to the papaya ringspot virus (PRV) outbreak in Hawaii, genetically altered papaya were approved and brought to market (including ‘SunUp’ and ‘Rainbow’ varieties.) Varieties resistant to PRV have some DNA of this virus incorporated into the DNA of the plant.

Preparation:

Papayas are often eaten raw. The fruit is cut in half and the seeds removed. The flesh can be scooped out or cut into wedges.

Farms that grow papaya:

Kumu Farms

Lokoea Farms

What else is in the bag?


Hapa Eggplant
Ho Farms

Lemon
OK Farms

Mixed Salad Greens
Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe

Papaya
Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe

Romaine Lettuce
Sensei Farms

Swiss Chard
Ho Farms

Try out these recipes!

Acai Bowl
Japanese Eggplant and Soba Noodles
Kale & Eggplant Summer Pasta
Romaine Lettuce Wraps

Filed Under: This Week's Bag

Our Mission

Oahu Fresh provides access to food from local farms for homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, and schools throughout Hawaii. As an avid participant in the CSA Hawaii program, we take pride in delivering freshly grown produce to you.

Members

  • Place Your Weekly Order
  • Become A Member
  • Policies & Procedures
  • FAQs

Weekly Newsletter

Be the first to hear what's in each week's delivery. Learn what's new in local food.

OAHU FRESH

916 Kaaahi Place
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 476-7550
support@oahufresh.com
Contact Us

Customer Service Hours:                                      Mon – Fri | 9:00AM  – 5:00PM

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

© 2025 Oahu Fresh | Design by Local Color Design