Hawai'i's papaya production rose to 29.8 million pounds last year, a 14.6 percent increase over 2006, the local office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.

There were 2.050 acres of papaya planted at the end of December, down 13 percent from the same time a year earlier. Harvested area totaled 1,255 acres, up 10.6 percent a year earlier.

Papaya growers received 37 cents per pound for fresh fruit in December, up from about 36 cents a year earlier.Lower temperatures and cloudy skies delayed fruit development and ripening in December, according to the report.

Young plantings made "steady progress" in December, and growers increased spraying efforts to limit the spread of disease, such as ring spot virus.