Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ‘em in your pocket.

Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ‘em in your pocket.

Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ‘em in your pocket.

Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.

When I sang that song as a child, I had no idea what a pawpaw was. I had never seen one in the wild. I’d never seen the fruit for sale in the store. It remained a mystery fruit until I got into edible landscaping.  

The Paw Paw tree – a tropical delight! One look at its leaves and growth habit and you’d think somebody plucked it straight out of the Amazon Rainforest. Only this tree is native to our area and has adapted to our temperate climate growing wild in the woods of the eastern United States. 

The largest native fruit in North America! The large green-skinned fruit grows in clusters with individual fruit weighing over one pound. When you cut the fruit open a beautiful orange to yellow custard pulp is exposed. Most describe the flavor as banana and mango combined, with after tones of pineapple, strawberry, or vanilla. 

Paraphrasing Michael Judd, author, and edible landscaper: Pawpaws are vitamin-packed antioxidant powerhouses—the original super fruit! They are a perfect protein! Full of vital vitamins and minerals. They are exceptionally high in potassium, calcium, vitamin C, niacin, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium. 

Wow!  That’s impressive! 

No Spray - Easy Organic Option! Pawpaws have next to zero disease issues. The Pawpaw is a ‘no spray tree’. The leaves carry a mild toxin so it has no pest or other diseases. It’s also very deer-resistant (but we recommend fencing until the tree is established). Pawpaws do require ample moisture and nutrients so be sure to mimic their native floodplain habitat. 

Grow your own! So you want to eat some Pawpaws? Your best bet is to grow them yourself because they’re not found in grocery stores. Check out the pawpaw planting workshop and tasting event at Bear Creek Organics farm and nursery this September!

PAW PAW WORKSHOP AND TASTING EVENT AT BEAR CREEK ORGANICS: SEPTEMBER 22ND  1 p.m. – 5  p.m.

Bear Creek Organics is holding a pawpaw tree planting workshop and tasting event at their farm and nursery in White Haven PA. Learn everything you will need to know about planting your own pawpaw patch. We will have some of the best varieties of Pawpaw trees for sale. You can go home with your own trees and the knowledge to succeed! 

Sign up on facebook.com/bearcreekorganics or bearcreekorganics.com.