Bubba Gump Papas

I have a sense that some people may be tiring of my extended Pawpaw exposition so this should wrap it up for the blog for a while. I still believe that Pawpaws are some of the tastiest fruit in the world. Here are some things I learned at the Pawpaw festival:

Pawpaws were beat by the blueberry. Both are native north american plants that caught cultivators interest in the early part of this century. Orchards of pawpaws were planted then forgotten when bananas from Central America became cheap and plentiful. The blueberry survived to become the well loved berry it is today. But I like to imagine just how common and plentiful pawpaws could have become. Many Pawpaw cultivars of today come from those forgotten orchards which Neal Peterson of Peterson's Pawpaws hiked into.

Pawpaws helped Lewis and Clark survive on the way back from their great expedition.

According to a newspaper from the time, the Hatfields shot three McCoys after tying them to Pawpaw trees, which is wierd because pawpaws are sort of spindly little trees.

Pawpaws are more nutritious than many of your common fruits. Better than grapes or peaches from my memory. They are equivalent to blueberries.

Swallowing pawpaw seeds will make you throw up.

If you want to get a lot of fruit on your pawpaw tree keep a goat. He will get you the pollinating flies you need.

And most excitingly, here are some tastey foods that are made using pawpaws:

Pure Pawpaw (Yes)
Pawpaw icecream (Yes)
Pawpaw icecream sandwiches (Yes)
Pawpaw smoothies (Yes)
Pawpaw popsicles
Pawpaw jam (Yes)
Pawpaw chutney (Yes)
Pawpaw pizza (Yes)
Pawpaw candy
Dried Pawpaw
Pawpaw chicken
Pawpaw bread
Pawpaw preserves
Pawpaw frozen pulp
Pawpaw bbq sauce
Pawpaw wine
Pawpaw beer
Pawpaw frosting (Yes)

The "yes"s are food Norma and I had a chance to consume.