Papaya

It can reach a height of 33 feet with the female plant being used mainly for cultivation. It has become an important agricultural export for developing countries, where export revenues of the fruit provide a livelihood for thousands of people in Asia and Latin America. The exports contribute to the growing supply of healthful food products on international markets with most of it being exported to the United States.

There are two kinds of papayas, one has sweet, red or orange flesh and the other has yellow flesh. In Australia, these are called “red papaya” and “yellow papaya”. If either of them is picked green, it is called a “green papaya”.

Papayas can be used as a food and also in traditional medicine. One research report indicates that consuming papaya leaf juice can raise platelet levels in blood and may be used as a medicine for dengue fever.