Tree ripened on Big Island of Hawaii
Our goal is to send the freshest tree-ripened papaya to our customers. Our papaya is grown by small local family farmers in the District of Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii. We harvest once each week on Sundays. All papayas that show a color break are harvested, giving us a spectrum of ripeness to choose from when packing on Mondays.
Weekly schedule
Our cut-off time to order is midnight HST each Saturday. The papaya is picked on Sunday and packed to order on Monday. Boxes of papaya are chilled overnight and sent to any destination in the USA 2nd day FedEx each Tuesday. An automated email with your tracking number will be sent to you when your papaya box is scanned at the FedEx facility on Tuesday. FedEx will only deliver to physical address, no PO Boxes are allowed.
What’s in each box
We pack five large fruit in every box with fruit weight at approximating 8 pounds. We try to pack a mix of varying ripeness in each box, with some riper papayas and some less ripe.
We exclusively pack an orange flesh Hawaiian variety of papaya.
How to ripen Papaya
Papaya turns color (more yellow and orange) faster in warmer temperatures. At 50 degrees F papaya will NOT ripen. At 75 to 80 degrees, papaya ripens normally. This understanding is critical in winter time when many homes and kitchen counter tops are often much colder than normal ripening temperatures. If the papaya is cold, it will take a long time to ripen. Placing fruit in a paper bag, and/or with other fruits such as a banana, and in a warm location will help papaya ripen faster.
When to refrigerate Papaya
DO NOT refrigerate papaya until it is at least 3/4 yellow/orange and there is a give when gently squeezing the papaya (similar to how you check the ripeness of an avocado). Once it is at this stage, refrigerate papaya and it should last for a week to 10 days without any further ripening.
Papaya continues to ripen after harvest
Papaya is a living organism and continues to ripen, soften and turn color. Ripening continues after harvest and during transit especially during hot summer temperatures. If you receive a softer papaya, we recommend cutting the papaya in half, removing the seeds, and scooping it out. You can freeze it for use in smoothies, sorbets, or popsicles.
We value your feedback
If you are not happy with your papayas, please take a picture as soon as possible and email us at info@hawaiipapayadirect.com, explaining what went wrong. We will do our best to make it right with a refund or replacement box as appropriate.
For more information visit our FAQ page.
Freshly Picked Papaya From Local Hawaii Farms
Two Day Shipping To Your Home
Hawaii papayas are picked from trees on the Big Island of Hawaii and lovingly shipped to your door. Relive your tropical memories with the unforgettable fresh taste of this delicious, nutritious fruit. It is a wonderful gift for yourself, your family, and your friends.
FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.!
Saturday at midnight is the cut-off for orders that will be shipped the following Tuesday. All orders are shipped 2 Day FedEx.