Hawai'i's fresh papaya production totaled 2.7 million pounds in February, down 6 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to the local office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Of February's total, 1.3 million pounds were shipped out of state.

Cumulative sales for the first two months of the year totaled 5.6 million pounds, up 24 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Papaya growers were expected to receive 43 cents a pound for fresh fruit in February, 2 cents a pound more than the same month a year ago, and 2 cents a pound more than in December.

Orchards experienced wet weather in early February but precipitation declined as the month progressed, according to the statistics service.

Wind and water damage weakened older trees, allowing disease to set in.

Some older fields were taken out of production, but that was offset by maturing fields, according to the agency. New plantings made favorable progress as sunny conditions returned, and growers stepped up weed-control efforts.