The company, based in Tacoronte (Tenerife) with over 30 years of farming experience, has turned a local tradition into an export model that now supplies a significant portion of the European market.
Papayas are grown in greenhouses in northern Tenerife, a privileged zone where temperatures rarely drop below 25°C. The region’s subtropical climate and proximity to the sea allow for year-round production, although peak harvests occur from October to June.
Sweet Papaya’s transformation began a decade ago, when three small island growers joined forces under a single commercial brand. Today, the company exports nearly 2 million kilos a year, 85% of which go beyond Spanish borders.
But success has not come without challenges. Papaya cultivation is highly labour-intensive both in the field and post-harvest, due to the fruit’s delicate skin, which bruises easily. As in other agricultural sectors, production costs continue to rise. “The only solution is to increase yield per hectare,” says Guillermo Aledo, the company’s Commercial Director.
With two main varieties—Sweet Mary and Honey—the company is also working with the Canary Islands Agricultural Research Centre to develop in vitro plants. Their goal is to reduce virus-related issues and produce trees capable of yielding up to 140 kilos each.
More demand than supply
“The market is asking for more than we can provide, and this has been the case for the past year and a half,” Aledo admits. Demand is outpacing supply, prompting the company to plan a 20% increase in production. Still, there’s one non-negotiable: quality. “We don’t want uncontrolled growth—we must maintain the standard that brought us this far.”
To streamline export operations, Sweet Papaya works with its mainland partner, Bayex Overseas, which manages all logistics and order processing for the European market.
According to its Manager, Vicente Bayona, Canarian papaya competes effectively with Brazilian papaya thanks to its proximity, fewer days in transit, and higher quality standards and Brix levels. These factors also help keep retail prices competitive and increase consumer demand.
From its base in Betxí (Valencia), the fruit is delivered to major European retailers’ platforms, then distributed to stores. Key clients include German retailers, Spanish supermarket chains, and distributors at Rungis market in France.
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Bayona believes the rise in papaya consumption is partly due to the high volume of cruise passengers from Northern Europe, where papaya is more commonly consumed than in Spain. Of course, its nutritional value also plays a role, as papaya’s low sugar content makes it a suitable option for diabetics.
Both executives agree: despite high demand, they prefer to work with controlled volumes, always prioritising product quality. “We will never sacrifice quality for quantity. That’s something we’re absolutely clear about.”
