08/25/2026
Here’s some wonderful papaya information from my friends tried Farm !!
When you think of eating ripe papaya, what comes to mind? Maybe for most people the words “soft, fragrant, and sweet” come to mind - unless you are Kelly, in which case it is apparently a 3rd degree olfactory felony.
If you visit the nursery while I cut open a ripe papaya, keep an eye on Kelly’s face. She can’t even hide the shade of green her face turns, as she attempts not to gag. As many times as I have suggested to her that maybe discussing papaya with the enthusiasm of someone smelling old gym socks is NOT the best way to sell papaya plants, her face says it all when I cut one open. Kelly swears that papaya smells and tastes like vomit (and for the love of all that is holy, please do NOT ask Kelly about Malabar spinach).
Over the years, Kelly has gathered enough fellow papaya skeptics to feel vindicated, but there is a reason she and her league of ripe papaya haters catch a whiff of a freshly sliced, perfectly ripe Red Lady Papaya and instantly gag – Butyric acid. Butyric acid is the exact same fatty acid found in the gut that breaks down fiber. It plays an important role in gut health, but its smell is less “fresh fruit” and more “the stomach has filed a complaint,” giving vomit its unmistakably awful, “If I even smell vomit, I will vomit” odor. Side note: After Jax was born, I quickly learned the extent of Kelly’s severe aversion to vomit when she announced, “I am not the puke parent; I am the p**p parent.” It turns out that some people may be genetically predisposed to notice that scent intensely - much like cilantro tastes soapy to some - ahem genetically unlucky ahem - people.
After all that, I DID find a way to get Kelly to eat papaya! The fruit starts green and firm, then gradually softens and develops yellow and orange color as it ripens. When papaya is still green and has not undergone any color change, it lacks that “vomit” smell and taste! Eating green papaya is more like eating a mild, crunchy vegetable. It also takes on other flavors very well when prepared. Think soup or stew – whatever spices you use will flavor your green papaya, and it holds its texture, staying firm and not turning to mush. At the “vegetable” stage, Kelly devours papaya! Raw green papaya in salads; green papaya “sauerkraut;” and cooked green papaya in soups and stews all winter long. Yes, all winter because our Red Lady papaya plants hold fruit all year (barring the anomaly of the freeze event that happened earlier this year). So if you’re like Kelly and can’t even say the word “papaya” without retching, give green papaya a try!
Green papaya is more than just a clever way to avoid Kelly’s anti ripe papaya campaign. Green papaya brings fiber to the plate, also providing lots of vitamin C and Potassium. Fun fact, it also has less sugar than ripe papaya so could be helpful for people who want to enjoy the benefits of papaya, but have to watch their sugar intake. Not to mention that using green papaya is an easy way to add more variety and freshness to your diet. No miracle claims, no magic potion—just a crunchy fruit doing honest work.
Red Lady Papaya plants are super easy to grow, thrive in our zone and are extremely productive. They thrive in full sun and rich soil, but they grow everywhere on our property in every condition that exists here (sun, shade, rich soil, poor soil). They pop up all over the place! So once you have an established plant, get ready to enjoy all of the volunteers that inevitably pop up through the years. Read as: let nature do the work! We have LOTS of large (8 feet tall!) Red Lady papaya plants available for sale in the nursery right now. They are big and ready to go into the ground or into larger pots so get yours while they are in 3-gallon pots for $40!
The Reid Farm is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located at 2670 San Juan Street in Deland. We can be reached by text or by calling (407) 929-2892. You can view our inventory, schedule consultations and sign up for classes on our website.
