PawPaws

Sometimes referred to as “America’s Best Secret Fruit” Pawpaws could be growing on a tree close to your own backyard. The Pawpaw is actually indigenous to North America and has been growing for hundreds of years in swaths of the Mid-Atlantic. Who knew?

Supposedly it was one of George Washington’s favorite desserts.

A Pawpaw tastes like a creamy combination of mangos, bananas and persimmons. Pawpaws have a tropical fruit taste. It’s a good source of several nutrients to include Manganese, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin C Zinc, Riboflavin, Potassium, Niacin and Calcium.  It’s also full of antioxidants.

These fruits grow to between 3-6 inches and literally fall of the tree when they are ripe.

They bruise easily and have a short shelf life so needless to say, they are not found in grocery stores.   You’ll have to plan on eating them right away as they only last about 2-3 days after they are ripe.