What are those big green bulbs in the tree?

If you’ve been hiking through the James River Park recently and you’re not familiar with one of the only two fruit trees native to Virginia, then pay attention please. I’ve heard people talking about them for a few weeks now, and it surprises me how such a tasty banana-like treat can be so under-promoted. What […]

July 2, 2011; 7:07 AM • by Phil Riggan

If you’ve been hiking through the James River Park recently and you’re not familiar with one of the only two fruit trees native to Virginia, then pay attention please.

I’ve heard people talking about them for a few weeks now, and it surprises me how such a tasty banana-like treat can be so under-promoted. What you’re seeing are pawpaws, and you can eat them. Just don’t eat them yet — they are ripe around August. See this article from last fall to get some good information on the pawpaw.

George Washington enjoying chilled pawpaws: 

History also tells us that pawpaws were well known to our founding fathers. It’s documented that George Washington was fond of pawpaw fruit, and pawpaws were among the many plants Thomas Jefferson cultivated at his beloved Monticello.

The science behind the regional fruit:

Origin: The pawpaw is native to the temperate woodlands of the eastern U.S. The American Indian is credited with spreading the pawpaw across the eastern U.S. to eastern Kansas and Texas, and from the Great Lakes almost to the Gulf.

Fruit: The pawpaw is the largest edible fruit native to America. Individual fruits weigh 5 to 16 ounces and are 3 to 6 inches in length. The larger sizes will appear plump, similar to the mango. The fruit usually has 10 to 14 seeds in two rows….Pawpaw fruit ripens during a four-week period between mid August and into October.

July 2, 2011 7:07 AM 0