Hainan in China is a province rich in tropical fruits. Sanya is ideally located on the 18th parallel north where the temperature and amount of sunshine is perfect for the cultivation of papaya. The sunshine, tree-ripe papaya has a relatively small production volume compared to traditional papaya. Mr. Xian Luochao of Hainan Lunyu Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. recently talked about the market conditions for this papaya variety.
"We used to grow traditional papaya varieties, but last year we began cultivating sunshine, tree-ripe papaya. The purchase price of this new variety is 40% higher this year than the purchase price of traditional papaya last year. There are several reasons for this difference. First, there is a difference between these two products. Sunshine, tree-ripe papaya ripen naturally on the tree and their flavor is therefore superior to traditional papaya. Second, there is a difference in papaya varieties. Most plantations in Hainan grow 'medium white' papaya, but we focus on 'large green' papaya. This variety is more suitable for our plantation method. Moreover, the fruit flesh is more exquisite and the sugar content is higher," said director Xian.
"In addition, weather conditions in Sanya are an important element in our plantation method," said director Xian. "Traditional Hainan papayas do not ripen on the tree because the weather conditions are not ideal and the sun-ripened papaya have a shelf life of only 5-7 days, which does not suit traditional retail methods. Our plantation on the 18th parallel north enjoys the ideal temperature for sunshine, tree-ripe papaya. Moreover, we grow in response to orders, so we drastically reduce the time required to find retailers. That is how we solve the short shelf life issue."
"Our peak sales season is between November and May in the subsequent year. We sell four times more papaya in that period compared to the months between June and October. Hainan grows papaya all year long, but the product quality fluctuates throughout the year. The product quality is better in the second half of the year."
The papaya is not a new fruit variety. The production volume and product characteristics are stable. The conditions in the production season primarily depend on changes in plantation technology and the quality of seedlings. Sanya did not suffer from extreme temperatures, so the growth of papaya remained unaffected. That is why the production volume and product quality are similar to last year.
Hainan Lunyu Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. primarily sells sunshine, tree-ripe papaya varieties, including 'large green', as well as 'medium white'. The company owns a plantation that covers an area of 93 hectares. The company supplies orders. Their sales channels include wholesale markets, chain stores, and e-commerce platforms.
For more information:
Mr. Xian Luochao - Director
Hainan Lunyu Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 189 7692 7810