Produce Business
May, 2003
Brooks Tropicals is the premier supplier of tropical fruits and vegetables to markets across the country. The company harvests and/or imports more than 40 tropical fruits and vegetables.
Our Caribbean Red papayas have a high sugar break, which means that they do not have to be full color in order to be sweet and delicious. Brooks’ Caribbean Red papayas have a longer shelf-life and less shrinkage than many other large papayas in the market today.
Brooks provides uniform-size papayas in every box. Retailers should always maximize that quality in order to maintain a consistently good-looking fruit when displayed.
Recommended Display Ideas
Large papayas are excellent when displayed either as a whole fruit or cut in half and shrink-wrapped for visual effect. Consumers usually prefer this type of display because they can see what the inside of the fruit looks like. They usually check for quality and taste before buying. Papayas, along with other tropicals, usually make for a colorful, unique and interesting display.
Another important factor is to display a large number of papayas at a time. Fifteen or more pieces of fruit make for a better-looking display in comparison to displaying five or six pieces at a time.
Point of Purchase/Signage
Point-of-sale materials should be visible and available to the consumer. Whether under the fruit display or around the produce department, easily accessed information minimizes frustration when locating produce department personnel.
Point-of-sale materials should emphasize papaya’s origin, taste, color, availability, size, quality and most importantly, preparation and storage tips. Most consumers are reluctant when buying certain fruits because they are unaware of what to do with them. They pick them up, like the quality, but are oblivious when thinking of ways to prepare them.
Another important component in the point-of-sale materials is to educate the consumers on the benefits of eating a papaya a day. Papayas are very high in vitamins A and C, and consist of an enzyme called papain that helps in digestion.
Cross-Merchandising Opportunities
Papayas are very sweet and are mainly used as shakes, in fruit salads or in sauces. Papayas are so versatile in flavor. They liven up the taste of any other food item when used together. For instance, papayas are exceptional with coconuts, apples, oranges and bananas. Their sweet, tangy taste accentuates the flavor of any other fruit.
Variety and Availability Guide
Brooks Tropicals sells one variety of large papayas. They are year-round and consistently increase in volume every year. Peak volume for large papayas occurs in October, November and December.
Promotional/Advertising Ideas
Brooks Tropicals is currently working on a new Caribbean Red papaya campaign that will emphasize the distinctive characteristics of its papayas. Our papayas are of top quality with exceptional taste. They have a longer shelf-life and less shrinkage. Our experience in the harvesting of papayas is extensive.
The campaign will emphasize what makes our papayas better from all the rest. Participation in food shows, tasting events and educational demonstrations have been a success in increased consumer exposure but have also expanded our knowledge in marketing and advertising papayas.
Ripeness Recommendations
Brooks papayas should be stored at 55 degrees when not on display. Brooks accommodates its customers by providing them with their own color preference that will suit their type of customer. We provide Green, Regular and Special-pack papayas.
Each has a percentage pertaining to the fruit’s ripeness. For example, Green is 0% to 25% ripe, Regular is 25% to 50% ripe, and our Special-pack papayas are 50% and higher. This will allow our customers to choose which better suits their store according to their customer base.
Regardless of the percentage of ripeness, Brooks’ papayas have a long shelf-life and less shrinkage. It is always recommended to allow papayas to be stored at room temperature for the normal ripening process. For faster ripening, it is recommended to place papayas in a brown paper bag along with a banana.
Display Care and Handling
When displaying papayas, or any type of tropical fruit, handling procedures are top priority. Some tropical fruits are very susceptible to bruising or discoloration. Papayas, when ripe, are extremely delicate.
For display care purposes, produce managers tend to cut the large papayas in half due to their huge size and consumer curiosity. In doing so, we suggest that you sprinkle fresh lime juice over the flesh in order to preserve the papaya's natural, bright, red flesh. Wrapping it tightly in plastic will also minimize deterioration of the flesh and provide a more appealing display appearance.
Receiving, Storage & Handling Tips
When papayas are received, they should immediately be stored at 55 degrees. When slicing them in half for preparation, they should be handled with care, leaving their seeds intact.
Out-of-the-Box Promotional Ideas
A tropical island setting in the tropical section of a produce department during the summer and winter months is a good idea.
Consumers appreciate creativity, free helpful information, and cleanliness in their produce departments.
Offer papaya tastings and cooking tips as well as nutritional content information. Point of sale materials should be easily accessible as well.
QUICK TIPS
Papayas should always be kept at 55 degrees.
Fifteen or more pieces of fruit make for a better-looking display in comparison to displaying five or six pieces at a time.
Point-of-sale materials should educate the consumers on the benefits of eating a papaya a day.
Sprinkle fresh lime juice over cut papayas in order to preserve the papaya’s natural, bright, red flesh.
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