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SOLO PAPAYAS
BROOKS TROPICALS
The sweetest of the papayas, Solos are pear-shaped, with bright orange flesh. Weighing about one pound, this fruit can be eaten starting at 50 percent yellow, when it gives to a gentle squeeze. Grown in Brazil, these Solos are non-GMO.
KEY SOLO POINTS
Taste: Similar to a melon in flavor, it is juicy and sweet and provides a fragrant aroma.
Selection: Solo papayas yield to gentle pressure when ripe. Their skin should be relatively smooth.
Ripening: Keep fruit at room tempera- ture until it reaches at least 50 percent color.
Ethylene Production & Sensitivity: High
Shelf Life: Once 100 percent yellow, the papaya should be enjoyed within two to three days.
Brooks’ Availability: Year-round Brooks’ Origin: Brazil
Storage Temperature: 50°- 55°F. Solo papayas won’t ripen if kept too cold. Storage Humidity: 85% - 95%
DISPLAY IDEAS
• Add a cut Solo to the display to show shoppers what it looks like inside.
• Signage is key. Let customers know,
they’re ready to eat when they give
to a gentle squeeze.
• Treat papayas gently. Baskets make
OUT-OF-THE-BOX PROMOTIONAL IDEAS
 Grab-and-go: This fruit was made for the ready-to-go section. Put together one Solo half, one spoon, one lime for a great breakfast, snack or lunch item. Fill a Solo half with starfruit or berries, for add-on sales across the produce aisle.
 Display Solos near the seafood counter with a tantalizing photo of a seafood salad nestled in a Solo “bowl”.
 In-store cooking demonstrations gain festive proportions if the dish is garnished with a sliver or wedge of a Solo papaya. The demonstration gains rave reviews if the Solo papaya acts as the demo’s dish.
 Add slices or even halves to the salad bar, the perfect way to try a new fruit. Turn an impulse at the salad bar into a regular Solo buyer.
Ice cream is made extra special when served in a Solo or served with chopped Solo papaya on top.
Salads get an extra boost with a Solo as an ingredient. Chop the Solo into the salad or serve the salad in a Solo half, where the Solo’s insides have been sliced ready for scooping out with a spoon or fork.
BROOKS TROPICALS
P.O. Box 900160 Homestead, FL 33090 (305) 247-3544
(305) 242-7393 brookstropicals.com info@brookstropicals.com
42 / MARCH 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
MASTERS OF MERCHANDISING
great displays, but give papayas, which have delicate skin, protection when using them.
• Multiply sales with multiple displays. • There’s always a place for Solos next to Caribbean Reds. But don’t stop there. Melons, with a complementary flavor and texture, provide a great
display for additional sales.
• Highlight how the Solo can be a nutri- tious and delicious bowl for yogurt,
berries or cereal.
• Make it a great add-on to packaged
salads where the Solo can act as the individual serving bowl to fruit, lettuce and even seafood salads.
USAGE SUGGESTIONS
Fitting perfectly in the hand, this fruit is perfect for work lunches and snacks. Eat whole or save the other half in the refrigerator for later.
Solos are a great treat at any meal. Enjoy simply with a squirt of lime or fill with an individual serving of almost any dish, from appetizer to dessert.
For two servings, buy two Solos. Scoop out one to chop or slice into a recipe. Serve in the halves of the second.