Papaya

Papaya is a tropical fruit with oblong form, thin green-to-orange skin, and coral to orange flesh surrounding a cavity of glossy black seeds. Ripe papaya tastes mellow and sweet with a musky, floral aroma, and its flesh is soft and juicy. Use it fresh in fruit bowls, smoothies, salsas, and desserts; unripe green papaya is crisp and shreds well for salads and pickles. Common retail forms include whole fruit (green or ripe), peeled spears, and pre-cut cubes.

Native to southern Mexico and Central America, papaya spread through the Caribbean and across the tropics via Spanish and Portuguese trade. It is now grown widely in Mexico, Brazil, India, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii, with most North American supply arriving by import.