National Pawpaw Day 2026
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I knew of the paw paw long before I knew about it.
A paw paw is the largest edible fruit native to North America. It grows on a small deciduous tree (Asimina triloba) found wild in the eastern United States and parts of Canada.
The fruit has a custard-like texture and a sweet, tropical flavor often compared to a mix of banana, mango, and cantaloupe.
They appear like lumpy, greenish-yellow mangoes or avocados measuring 3 to 6 inches long, containing large, dark brown seeds.
You consume the soft yellow interior pulp which is the only part that is safe to eat.
The skin, seeds, and leaves contain neurotoxins or compounds that can cause stomach upset.
Since they bruise easily and have a very short shelf life once ripe, you rarely find them in grocery stores.
They are mostly had by foraging in the woods or visiting local farmers markets in the fall.
Today is National Paw paw Day.
The day celebrates the paw paw which is the largest native North American fruit.
Enjoy !