Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and CCE Harvest NY will be hosting a statewide conference on a native fruit called pawpaw (Asimina triloba). The conference is taking place Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the historic Kallet Theater in Pulaski, NY.
Pawpaw is the largest edible fruit native to North America. It looks tropical and has a flavor most commonly associated with mango and banana. Its natural habitat extends from Michigan and New York to as far south as northern Florida, and as far west as Oklahoma and Kansas. While the fruit looks and tastes tropical, it can withstand cold temperatures down to USDA hardiness zone 5 and can be grown alongside other fruits in Upstate New York. There are even historical records dating back to the 19th century showing that pawpaw was discovered in southern Oswego County near the Three Rivers Area. Today, however, most wild pawpaws are located in the western portion of the state. While pawpaws were grown by Indigenous Peoples in the past, sadly, they became North America’s forgotten fruit.
Recently, new cultivars have allowed for a niche industry to form and there is a lot of interest in seeing this native fruit return. Pawpaws are a wonderful crop with a lot of potential. In New York, the fruit begins to ripen in late September and continues through the first two weeks of October. One of the advantages of growing pawpaws is they are relatively pest free, making them attractive to small-scale ag producers. Beyond eating the fresh fruit, there are value-added products that can be made from pawpaw pulp, including pawpaw ice cream, jams and even alcoholic beverages. However, one of the key challenges of creating a niche industry in New York is the lack of education and awareness. Most nursery managers, fruit growers, value-added producers and consumers are simply unfamiliar with this unique fruit. Therefore, the goal of the conference is to help bring the North American pawpaw out of the shadows. Conference organizers want to help fill in some important gaps in knowledge about this fruit and to lay out a vision for the future.
This conference will cover pawpaw history, best fruit production practices, nutrition, processing, value-added products and marketing. Some of our guest speakers will be recognized growers and researchers from across the country. Attendees will also be able to develop professional relationships and help build a network across New York. The cost to attend this all-day event is $40 per person. Registration is required and seating is limited. Registration includes entry into the conference and an opportunity to try fresh pawpaw fruit provided by the Cornell Orchard. Attendees will also be able to taste some value-added products including pawpaw jam and pawpaw ice cream. Registration fees do not include lunch or the after-hour pawpaw alcoholic samplings led by Kallet Theater. Once attendees have registered online, they will receive a follow-up email with the conference agenda. To learn more about the conference or to register go to thatscooperativeextension.org/events/2022/10/01/new-york-state-pawpaw-conference.
For further information, contact Joshua Vrooman, ag educator for CCE Oswego, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315.963.7286 ext. 200 or Anya Osatuke, small fruits specialist for CCE Harvest NY, at aco56@cornell.edu or 607.752.2793.
