Looking for pawpaw fruit in the Boston, Massachusetts area? We have a limited quantity available on a seasonal basis (located about 20 miles south of Boston).
Please email jonathon@greenupside.com with the subject line “Pawpaw Fruit” to join our waiting list and get notifications when pawpaws are in-season and available for sale.
Pawpaw Fruit (Boston, MA)
Pawpaw (often called the “tropical fruit of North America) is a very nutritious fruit. It is high in vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
A pawpaw is the edible fruit of a Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba). This tree is a deciduous, shade-tolerant understory tree that is native to the U.S. (26 states) and Canada (and it has the largest edible fruit that is native to the U.S.!)
A pawpaw tree produces small, maroon to reddish-purple flowers with three lobes (triloba) in early spring. The flowers are 1 to 2 inches wide, and they have a slight yeast smell to attract flies and beetles as pollinators.
What Does Pawpaw Taste Like?
Pawpaw tastes “tropical”. That is, pawpaw fruit has a combination of flavors from tropical fruit, like banana, pineapple, and mango.
The flesh inside a pawpaw is soft, like a type of natural custard (it is in the “Custard Apple” family!). The flesh of Pawpaw fruit is sort of like very ripe bananas that have softened up a bit and gotten sweeter.
After removing the skin and seeds, you can mash up the pawpaw flesh and use it to replace mashed bananas (such as in banana bread recipes).
What Month Is Pawpaw Fruit Ripe?
Pawpaw fruit ripens in the month of September or October (possibly as early as August in some places). The skin will look yellow or green, depending on the pawpaw variety. The skin will also have some brown or black flecks (just like ripe bananas).
Should You Refrigerate Pawpaws?
When fully ripe, pawpaw fruit will only last a few days at room temperature before spoiling. If you keep pawpaw fruit in the refrigerator, it will last a bit longer (possibly a week or so).
If you refrigerate unripe pawpaw fruit, it will keep for longer (up to 3 weeks). Then you can let it continue ripening at room temperature.
After removing the skin and seeds, you can freeze pawpaw fruit flesh to use later. Put the flesh in a freezer bag, then mark the bag with the date and contents, and use it within a year of freezing.
Can You Eat Pawpaw Raw?
You can eat pawpaw fruit raw. Just make sure that the fruit is ripe, and that you remove the skin and seeds.
Also, keep in mind: it is possible that you could be allergic to pawpaw fruit, just like you could be allergic to apples, citrus (lemon, lime, orange, etc.) and other fruit.
Why Are Pawpaw Fruit Not Sold In Stores?
Pawpaw fruit is not sold in stores for two main reasons.
First, it is difficult to grow pawpaw fruit out of season. It is difficult to get the fruit outside of the August to October time frame. Perhaps scientists and growers could work on getting fruit year-round, but the fruit is not popular enough (yet) for this to happen.
Second, fresh pawpaw does not store well. When ripe, the fruit only lasts a few days at room temperature – or a week when refrigerated. It can be frozen to last longer, but then the fruit is no longer fresh.
Soon after ripening, the dark flecks on the skin start to increase in size, and the fruit starts to go bad. This makes the fruit less marketable on grocery store shelves.
The cost of refrigeration, shipping, and spoilage would make pawpaw very expensive in stores. Most people would probably rather buy bananas (at a very low price) or some other tropical fruit that is widely available in stores (such as pineapple).
Where Can I Buy Pawpaw Fruit?
If you live in Massachusetts (or beyond!), email me at jonathon@greenupside.com with the subject line “Pawpaw Fruit” and I will add you to the waiting list. I have a small amount of fruit available for sale in season (late September to mid October) if all goes well!
To buy pawpaw fruit elsewhere, check your local farmers’ market. Most grocery stores don’t carry it, and even specialty stores would only have it at certain times of year (August or September to October, when the fruit is in season).
I would not order pawpaw fruit from anyone online. By the time the fruit is shipped to you, it will likely be spoiled – even if shipping only takes a few days. It is possible to send it with cold packs to keep it more fresh, but it will be expensive!
Why Are Pawpaws So Rare?
Pawpaws are not as well-known as other types of fruit. As a result, not as many farmers or local growers raise them.
Pawpaw trees are slow-growing, especially from seed, so it can take many years to get fruit from them (especially when they are started from seed).
The logistics of growing and selling pawpaws is also a challenge. As mentioned above, ripe pawpaw fruit does not keep for long, making it difficult to ship and store.
Are There Pawpaws in Massachusetts?
There are pawpaw trees in Massachusetts, and they are found throughout most of the state. Many pawpaw varieties grow in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8, and Massachusetts ranges from zone 5a to 7b, making it the perfect place to grow pawpaw trees.
Please email jonathon@greenupside.com with the subject line “Pawpaw Fruit” to join our waiting list and get notifications when pawpaws are in-season and available for sale.
Where Are Pawpaw Trees Found In Massachusetts?
Pawpaw trees will grow in areas with moist but well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral). It can tolerate shade, but it does best in full sun.
Other Fruit Trees In Massachusetts
If you are looking for other good fruit trees to grow in Massachusetts, consider the ones listed here.