Carica Papaya

Have you had your vitamin C?

 

Background Information

Papaya is a fruit.

It grows on a tree.

It is grown in tropical areas south of the equator.

It originated in Southern Mexico and since then it has been cultivated in many other tropical areas.

Papaya is also known as Pawpaw, Papaw or Papeeta.

 

Food Uses

Papaya is high in vitamin C.

It can be eaten on raw or ripe on it's own or added to salads and main dishes.

In Central America it is often pureed and served as a juice. *Man it's good!

It can be used as a marinade to tenderize meat.

 

Medical Uses

In tablet form papaya is orally taken to help digestion problems.

It can be directly applied to cuts, rashes, stings or burns.

Consumed in high doses woman use as a contraceptive. *Could not find an effective rate.

 

How Does Papaya Get Here?

Cultivators and farmers produce a mass amount of fruit and sell it locally and to corporate distributors.

You can get papaya a number of ways.

1.) Hand pick it by making an international trip to the tropics.

2.) Go to a grocery store near you.

3.) Go to a farmers market.

4.) Purchase online.

 

Field Trip to El Burrito

 



When going to El Burrito I had no clue what to get. Especially since I forgot my wallet and had zero funds. Luckily, I was able to convince Aram to borrow me some money! My first move I made in the store was taking a right. I found myself in the produce aisle staring at a delicious papaya. It reminded me of my Belize and Guatemala travels. I drank papaya juice with every meal and had it ripe with breakfast each morning. It was the first time I had tried it and it will always remind me of a different place and time in my life. If you haven’t tried papaya, you should!