Need a refresher on papaya varieties?
Scroll through this helpful primer, below. And for more on papaya trends, sales, shipping, handling, companies that sell papayas and other specifications, visit the PMG (Produce Market Guide) papaya commodity page.
Hawaiian Papayas
Hawaiian papayas are genetically modified to resist the ringspot virus disease.
- Skin: greenish-yellow
- Flesh: smooth, golden-colored
- Flavor: sweet, melon-like taste
- Size: about the size of a large pear
- Shape: pear-shaped
- Seed: central cavity full of round, dark, slightly soft edible seeds
- Availability: year-round
Golden Papayas
Golden papayas turn greenish-yellow to orange when fully ripe.
- Skin: greenish-yellow to orange
- Flesh: deep orange in color, firm and juicy
- Flavor: slight melon flavor, with less sweetness than a regular papaya and no acidity
- Size: about 1 pound
- Shape: oval to slightly pear-shaped
- Seed: central cavity filled with small, shiny black round inedible seeds
- Availability: year-round
Maradol Papayas
Maradol papayas are sometimes called Mexican papayas, as most of this variety is grown in Mexico.
- Skin: vibrant, dark green to yellow
- Flesh: somewhat firm, golden to salmon-colored
- Flavor: sweet, with a slightly musky scent
- Size: 3 pounds or larger
- Shape: somewhat irregular; oval to an elongated pear shape
- Seed: small, round, shiny, edible black seeds
- Availability: year-round
Red Lady Papayas
Red lady papayas are a larger variety like the maradol or tainung. The fruit can be eaten when the skin is about halfway from green to yellow.
- Skin: green to bright yellow
- Flesh: vibrant salmon-colored
- Flavor: melon-like taste with a sweet aroma
- Size: about 2 to 5 pounds
- Shape: oblong
- Seed: inner cavity filled with small, round black seeds
- Availability: year-round
Strawberry Papayas
Strawberry papayas are a smaller variety.
- Skin: green that turns golden yellow with green speckles when ripe
- Flesh: firm, juicy, salmon-colored
- Flavor: very sweet, with hints of melon and peach, and very little acid
- Size: about 1.5 to 1.75 pounds
- Shape: elongated pear shape
- Seed: central cavity full of small, round, shiny black inedible seeds
- Availability: year-round
Tainung Papayas
Tainung papayas are sometimes also called formosa papayas.
- Skin: yellow and green-spotted
- Flesh: firm and salmon colored
- Flavor: sweet, with a mild aroma and hints of melon
- Size: 3 pounds or larger
- Shape: oblong
- Seed: small, round, shiny black seeds
- Availability: year-round
