Pawpaw in Leaf Green, Community Garden Collection

Those who dwell in the “Pawpaw Belt”, including the yellow-billed cuckoo, the zebra swallowtail butterfly and the sphinx moth, know that September is when the pawpaw is at its zenith. The fruit’s pale green skin is supple, and its orange pulp bears flavors of vanilla, caramel and mango. The pawpaw’s attributes don’t end there. America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw repels pests and possesses cancer-fighting properties. But between the pawpaw’s short harvesting season and limited range (pawpaw patches can be found in and around Appalachia), the fruit has never been commercialized. And so while the pawpaw is deeply rooted in American folklore, it’s nowhere to be found in American supermarkets. Farmers concerned with native plants, the local food movement and organic agriculture are striving to domesticate pawpaws, but for now the pawpaw largely remains a forager’s delight.

Repeat: 27”w x 27”h