The Ontario fruit that sounds 'too mythical, too bizarre to be true' (Paw paw)

Colin Butler

2018-10-07

NPR

Keywords: Ontario paw paw, Native fruit, Sustainable ingredient, Tropical flavor, Local agriculture

With their large, tropical-looking leaves, skinny trunks and reaching less than 10 metres in height, pawpaw trees seem almost out of place among the maple, oak, walnut and beech that populate southern Ontario's Carolinian forests.

This CBC News article explores the growing interest in the Ontario paw paw, a native fruit that has been largely overlooked but is now gaining popularity among foragers, farmers, and chefs. The paw paw, known for its tropical flavor and creamy texture, is being rediscovered as a unique and sustainable local ingredient. The article discusses the efforts to cultivate and promote the paw paw, including the establishment of orchards and the development of value-added products. It also highlights the challenges faced by growers, such as the tree's short harvest season and the need for specific growing conditions. Overall, the piece paints a picture of a promising but still niche market for the Ontario paw paw.

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Tags: indigenous people, pawpaw fruit,