Pawpaws – Taste of the Tropics

ByDevin Meister

Quick — can you name the official native fruit tree of Ohio?

If you thought of Johnny Appleseed and said the “apple” you’re wrong, If you thought Buckeye, wrong again. That’s Ohio’s “official tree” and hopefully you know not to eat the nuts.

The answer is the Pawpaw.

It’s indigenous to Ohio, has existed globally for more than 30,000 years, and has held its designation in Ohio since 2009. It could grow almost anywhere in Southwest Ohio, and yet it’s unfamiliar to many people.

Local and different

When you think of flavors of the Midwest, two words that rarely come to mind are “light” and “tropical.” Yet that’s exactly what the Pawpaw offers. It’s unique because it’s the only fruit tree member of the tropical Annonaceae family to live in temperate regions.

Read the complete column here: https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/this-tropical-tasting-fruit-is-a-local-delicacy-but-many-dont-know-about-it/TVYYVQKDSJHMRF63AFJGRF6LXI/ 

RESOURCES

Where to Go

Cox Arboretum – Ruth Cummings Mead Woodland

There are two groves of Pawpaws on this trail, note that removing the fruit is against park regulations.

metroparks.org/places-to-go/cox-arboretum/

Pawpaw Fest Albany, Sept. 12-14

ohiopawpawfest.com/

Pfeifer’s Orchard

I saw them here once, no guarantees.

peiferorchards.com/

Supporting Pollinators

Greater Dayton Pheasants Forever Fall Banquet, Sept. 13

events.pheasantsforever.org/events/greater-dayton-pfqf-third-annual-fundraising-banquet/a002f684-e7da-4eb8-be3e-9e255a8cbfaf

Resources

ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/pawpaw-asimina-triloba

vnps.org/paw-paws-and-the-zebra-swallowtail-butterfly/

ale8one.com/product/pawpaw-ale-8-12-pack-bottles/

littlefishbrewing.com/beer/pawpaw-weizen/

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