Genetically modified papaya grown in Hawaii has been approved for export to Japan, a key development opening the potential for major growth and millions of dollars in business, federal officials said.

The genetically modified Rainbow papaya received approval Thursday from Japan consumer affairs officials, sources said.

The Rainbow, expected to be shipped in December, would be the first genetically modified fresh fruit imported into Japan, according to the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association.

"It’s a big deal. It’s kind of exciting. Things are happening," said Kenneth Kamiya, an Oahu papaya grower and association board member.

Kamiya said he hopes the government will provide support to revitalize the industry, which has struggled to survive a fruit fly infestation and crippling ringspot virus.

Producing a papaya resistant to the virus took scientists from UH-Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Cornell University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pharmacia & Upjohn about six years to develop.

Many believe the Rainbow saved Hawaii’s papaya industry, but over the years it failed to generate widespread market acceptance.

In order to help make the Rainbow papaya a commercial success, local officials spent a decade trying to persuade officials in Japan to accept it.

Genetically modified papaya from Hawaii is shipped to the continental United States and to Canada, where it was approved in 2003.

Growers in Hawaii sold close to 60 million pounds of papaya in 1990 before the ringspot virus devastated orchards in Puna, compared with 31.5 million in 2009 on sales totaling $14.1 million, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

USDA officials said the approval by Japan took about 10 years and involved conducting tests to satisfy the government that the Rainbow papaya is safe.

Department official Dennis Gonsalves said the process involved obtaining approvals from Japan officials in charge of agriculture, health and consumer affairs.

Gonsalves, director of the Agricultural Research Service in the Pacific Basin, said scientific tests showed the genetically modified Rainbow papaya is chemically no different than naturally grown papaya in terms of vitamins and minerals.

He is shipping 25 boxes of the papaya and flying Sunday to Japan, where he will speak to a gathering at the U.S. Embassy next week.

Gonsalves said many papaya growers suffered due to the ringspot virus and that genetically modified papaya provides them with a fruit that is resistant to the disease.

"It makes us feel good … to contribute to the well-being of Hawaiian agriculture," he said.

Gonsalves, who was raised in Kohala, recalled the ringspot virus reducing the crop in Puna by 50 percent by the late 1990s and many growers choosing against growing papayas because of the chance of major losses.

He said about 80 percent of the papaya sold in Hawaii are now genetically modified.

Kamiya said growers on Oahu need facilities to treat the papaya before they are exported, similar to facilities on the Big Island.

"Oahu growers can’t export because they don’t have treatment facilities," he said.

Kamiya said growers also need more agricultural land with water, electricity and roads, along with marketing help.

Big Island grower Delan Perry, who once grew more than 1 million pounds of papayas per year, said he has diversified his crops because of invasive species.

Perry said he expects the Rainbow papaya market will grow slowly but will be successful in Japan.

"It’s healthy and nutritious," he said. "I think it’s going to be a winner."