Pawpaws | Kentucky Life | KET

A pawpaw tree laden with fruit in late summer begs for a closer look—and taste. The native tree has large tropical leaves and in late summer bears a green oblong fruit whose creamy golden flesh tastes something like a banana and mango.

Kentucky State University has the only university program in the nation devoted to the cultivation and propagation of the pawpaw as a commercial fruit. More than 2,000 trees from 17 states are planted on 12 acres at the KSU farm.

The pawpaw occurs naturally in the eastern half of the United States, and it was well known to the Native Americans. Thomas Jefferson grew pawpaws at Monticello, and the explorers Lewis and Clark found nourishment from Missouri pawpaws.

Pawpaw trees can be difficult to propagate. The seedlings need some shelter from sun and wind, and there must be two different cultivars for fruit set.
Occasionally a wild pawpaw will have a bitter aftertaste. However, the pawpaw has few natural pests and the fruit is nutritious.

The KSU researchers are interested in the pawpaw as an alternative crop and are developing varieties that produce larger, tasty fruit.

Visit http://www.KET.org/kentuckylife/1800s/ to watch full episodes from the 18th season of Kentucky Life on KET.