What is pawpaw fruit?

The pawpaw is a native North American fruit that grows on the largest fruit trees native to the continent. The fruit has a greenish-black appearance on its exterior and features a pale or bright yellow flesh. The pawpaw can grow to between 3 and 6 inches in length.

The pawpaw fruit requires approximately 160 days without frost and a minimum of 400 hours of winter temperatures to grow. During the first one or two years of the growth of a pawpaw fruit tree, it is highly sensitive to direct sunlight and requires protection by using tree shelters to filter the light.