PapayaEnjoy the Tropical Twist of Papaya Papayas grow in most of the worlds tropical regions. Reaching heights of over 30 feet, the tree is exotic with a thin structure that supports large bunches of fruit. Each papaya can weigh up to 10 lbs! When properly ripe, papaya has a unique texture that melts in your mouth. Unless you live in a tropical climate, its hard to come by ripe papaya. Imported papayas are picked green, and the true flavor never develops.