A promising treatment for papayas

Fiji Islands would boost exports of papaya which fall sharply after climatic disasters of early 2012.

Tornadoes and flooding in early 2012 destroyed a large part of the production of papaya. Exports stopped for months, until July 2013 when the first shipments left in Australia.

The "Fiji Papaya Project" program was created with the objective of developing the production. Producers and exporters have worked together to ensure a better quality (good flesh color, high Brix degree) and monitor post-harvest treatments to reduce diseases. In particular, the anthracnose which continues to be a problem for the sector.

So far, treatment of fruits by a hot water bath (48 ° C for 20 minutes) gave the best results. This system, of immersion in hot water, is under study for being generalized, a prototype has been designed with a processing capacity of 400 kg of fruits at once.

source :  true pacific com