A GLANCE AT THE PAPAYA INDUSTRY IN PUERTO RICO: PRESENT SITUATION AND OUTLOOK

Tropical or exotic fruits are in constant demand within and outside the Caribbean. Among them, papaya (Carica papaya) offers great economic potential. The demand for papaya is the resultant of the recognition of its nutritional value and of consumer's preference attributable to changes in dietary habits. Papayas are cultivated intensively in Puerto Rico far local consunmption as ii#ell as for export to selected markets. Yields per hectare of papaya are very high if intensively managed. Economic returns are attractive for investors. Significant improvements can be achieved in the papaya industry with sound and realistic planning from preplanting to marketing coupled with the use of high-yielding cultivars and appropriate management technologies. This paper discusses the current situation and suggests recommendations to strengthen production of papaya in Puerto Rico. These could be useful to other countries of the Caribbean Basin