WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio (AP) — Stubborn drought in Ohio and the shifting weather patterns influenced by climate change appear to be affecting North America’s largest native fruit: the pawpaw.
Avocado-sized with a taste sometimes described as a cross between a mango and banana, the pawpaw is beloved by many but rarely seen in grocery stores in the U.S. due to its short shelf life. The fruit grows in various places in the eastern half of North America, from Ontario to Florida. But in parts of Ohio, which hosts an annual festival dedicated to the fruit, and Kentucky, some growers this year are reporting earlier-than-normal harvests and bitter-tasting fruit, a possible effect of the extreme weather from the spring freezes to drought that has hit the region.
Take Valerie Libbey’s orchard in Washington Court House, about an hour’s drive from Columbus. Libbey grows 100 pawpaw trees and said she was surprised to see the fruit dropping from trees in the first week of August instead of mid-September.
“I had walked into the orchard to do my regular irrigation and the smell of the fruit just hit me,” said Libbey, who added that this year’s harvest period was much shorter than in previous years and the fruits themselves were smaller and more bitter.
I finally managed to try pawpaws this year. It was quite nice in Maryland and they’re all over along riverbanks. They had nearly identical taste and texture to the sweetsops available throughout Asia, just with larger seeds. I have no idea why they’re not widely available, the flavor is sweet and mild like most fruits that are popular in the US.
Apparently they aren’t sold because they spoil fast. I’ve never heard of them personally
I have never heard of this fruit.
And I lived in Ohio for almost ten years. What is wrong with me?
While we’re on this subject… What exactly are the pawpaw and the prickly pear doing in the middle of the Indian jungle? For that matter, what’s Cousin Louie doing there? How did he end up thousands of miles from Sumatra?
If Baloo was having his fruit imported from the Midwestern U.S., that’s hardly the bare necessities, now is it?
It’s wild seeing Washington Court House (yes that’s the actual town name) in a general news byline. It’s such a small and insignificant town.
Weird
There’s probably a German word for this feeling
No one will look back and say there weren’t signs when our planet dies. They’ll finally realize we just ignored them.
Ignored them and doubled down.
Just planted 2 trees I got at the Pawpaw festival a couple weeks ago. They appear to have survived the wind storm from Helene. Even if my lawn furniture was thrown 30 ft.
Love me some pawpaws and persimmons.
I’ve never had two pawpaws that tasted alike, and it’s the best part. Everything from banana through apple to peach and mango… so good.
I grow pawpaws on Long Island. They’re delicious. It’s sad to hear that climate change is affecting them, too. The tree looks tropical and the fruit tastes tropical because they evolved when the climate here was warmer and wetter. The flowers are meant for flies, beetles, and ants because bees didn’t exist back then! Hopefully new varieties can be developed that will handle climate changes.
Way down yonder?
… in the the pawpaw patch. 🎶
In the pawpaw patch‽‽‽
