"I have yet to meet a person who is drawn to pawpaws who is not a good person." Pawpaws are found in the fleeting, honeyed weeks between August and October. They are fleshy and awkward to eat, sweetly fragrant, and th

There is, I think, a pawpaw temperament; curious, engaged, humble. I have yet to meet a person who is drawn to pawpaws who is not a good person. --from Why Pawpaws? in The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook

The largest edible fruit native to the United States tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango. It grows wild in twenty-six states, gracing Eastern forests each fall with sweet-smelling, tropical-flavored abundance. Historically, it fed and sustained Native Americans and European explorers, presidents, and enslaved African Americans, inspiring folk songs, poetry, and scores of place names from Georgia to Illinois. Its trees are an organic grower’s dream, requiring no pesticides or herbicides to thrive, and containing compounds that are among the most potent anticancer agents yet discovered. So why have so few people heard of the pawpaw, much less tasted one? In Pawpaw—a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award nominee in the Writing & Literature category—author Andrew Moore explores the past, present, and future of this unique fruit, traveling from the Ozarks to Monticello; canoeing the lower Mississippi in search of wild fruit; drinking pawpaw beer in Durham, North Carolina; tracking down lost cultivars in Appalachian hollers; and helping out during harvest season in a Maryland orchard. Along the way, he gathers pawpaw lore and knowledge not only from the plant breeders and horticulturists working to bring pawpaws into the mainstream (including Neal Peterson, known in pawpaw circles as the fruit’s own “Johnny Pawpawseed”), but also regular folks who remember eating them in the woods as kids, but haven’t had one in over fifty years. As much as Pawpaw is a compendium of pawpaw knowledge, it also plumbs deeper questions about American foodways—how economic, biologic, and cultural forces combine, leading us to eat what we eat, and sometimes to ignore the incredible, delicious food growing all around us. If you haven’t yet eaten a pawpaw, this book won’t let you rest until you do.

Uncover Ohio's scrumptious culinary secrets in 100 recipes from the Buckeye State's best chefs, from summer succotash, savory goetta, and cracker-crusted walleye to butternut squash bisque, hazelnut brownies, and buckeye pie. Clear, easy-to-follow recipes are complemented by mouthwatering color photographs of every dish. Sample Ohio's finest foods in your home kitchen!

“With this valuable book, you can pawpaw your own food forests, restoring the diversity, abundance, and climate we all need.” —Albert Bates, permaculture instructor, ecovillage designer, author of The Biochar Solution Pawpaws is the first in-depth guide to small-scale commercial cultivation of pawpaws. Also known as Indiana bananas or hipster bananas, this almost forgotten fruit, native to North America, is making a huge comeback with foodies, chefs, craft brewers, and discerning fruit-lovers. Written by, and for, the organic grower, coverage includes: Botany and the cultural history of pawpaws Orchard siting and planning Choosing the best-quality nursery trees Descriptions of over fifty cultivars Propagation and organic growing tips Pests and disease management Marketing and selling fresh pawpaws, seeds, and starts Processing and producing value-added products. Get ahead of the farming curve, diversify your orchard or food forest, and discover the commercial potential of America’s almost forgotten native fruit with this comprehensive manual to small-scale commercial pawpaw production. “Blake Cothron is an authority on pawpaws and provides a clear, detailed guide for commercial success in growing this ‘oddly appealing species’ (his own words). The supply of this exotic, trending, easy-to-grow fruit has not yet met the demand. Blake shares the wealth of his knowledge, including challenges—and when he doesn’t know, he says so (it’s probable that others don’t know either).” —Pam Dawling, author of Sustainable Market Farming “The pawpaw’s revival is long overdue. Blake Cothron’s Pawpaws will help bring about the day when fragrant fruit is no longer a rare treat, but a regular part of our seasonal diet.” —Darrell E. Frey, Three Sisters Farm, author of Bioshelter Market Garden

How to cultivate, harvest, and utilize North America's largest native fruit It is hard to eat more than one pawpaw at a go. The creamy rich pulp with tropical flavors ranging from mango and pineapple to banana combine like a satisfying dessert. The pawpaw, a close relative of the tropical custard apple, grows throughout much of North America yet culturally and horticulturally we know very little about it. This mini manual by edible landscape author Michael Judd jumps right into growing, caring for, harvesting, and using pawpaws - from seed to table. Judd demystifies fruit growing in direct, easy to follow steps that quickly brings confidence to the newbie grower while expanding the horizons of curious gardeners. Historically most people have only experienced foraged pawpaw fruit, which can be a hit or miss game for a good experience. That is quickly changing as selected and bred cultivars are being grown and shared. Judd's pawpaw manual gets you started right away with the best selections and approaches. Filled with straightforward how-to, colorful pictures and illustrations For the Love of Pawpaws brings to life easy and successful ways to enjoy the best pawpaws have to offer. Chapters include: Where Can I Grow Pawpaws? Buying a Good Pawpaw Tree Growing Pawpaws from Seed & Grafting Landscaping Ideas Ecological Tree Care Harvest: Fruit Handling & Processing What to Do with All this Fruit Recipes Pawpaws & Permaculture Discover the many reasons pawpaws are edible landscape and culinary all-stars For the Love of Pawpaws will take you on an adventure that culminates in one of life's most rewarding experiences. A delicious opportunity to enjoy organic gardening and gourmet food at it best.