This Forgotten Native Fruit Is Better Than Apples (And Almost No One Grows It!)

Summary

This video uncovers the forgotten story of the pawpaw, the largest native fruit in the U.S. Once a staple in Native American diets and praised by figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the pawpaw is packed with more nutrients than an apple but vanished from modern food culture. With a unique, tropical flavor and impressive nutritional profile, it was once crucial for survival, even saving the Lewis and Clark expedition. However, due to challenges in agriculture, including short shelf life and complicated growing conditions, pawpaw faded from commercial farming. The video explores its rich history and revival efforts, urging a reappraisal of forgotten foods.

Takeaways

• 😀 The pawpaw fruit, native to eastern North America, is packed with more nutrients than common fruits like apples, offering higher calories, protein, fiber, and essential minerals.
• 😀 Pawpaw has a rich cultural history, once a staple food for Native Americans, and even influenced major historical figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
• 😀 Pawpaw’s nutrition far surpasses common fruits, offering 2-4 times more magnesium, iron, manganese, and zinc compared to apples, bananas, or oranges.
• 😀 Despite its high nutritional value, pawpaw is rarely eaten today due to its short shelf life and difficulty in transportation.
• 😀 Pawpaw grows in the understory of forests, thriving in moist, rich soils and partial shade, unlike the sun-loving apple tree.
• 😀 Native Americans used pawpaw for more than food; they crafted tools, fibers for fishing nets, and used its seeds as insect repellent.
• 😀 Famous historical figures, like President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were fond of pawpaw, with Jefferson even attempting to spread it in Europe.
• 😀 The pawpaw fruit played a crucial role in survival during the Lewis and Clark expedition, providing sustenance when food supplies ran out.
• 😀 Pawpaw's decline is due to modern agriculture’s focus on fruits that are easy to transport, have a long shelf life, and require little care, making pawpaw an inconvenient crop.
• 😀 The growing and harvesting of pawpaw trees requires patience and specialized care, with trees taking up to 7 years to bear fruit and needing unique pollination methods.
• 😀 Despite its drawbacks for large-scale agriculture, pawpaw is still cultivated on smaller farms, and there’s a growing interest in reviving this forgotten fruit.

Q & A

What makes pawpaw nutritionally superior to apples?

Pawpaw is more nutritionally dense than apples. It contains more calories, protein, fiber, and vitamin C. Additionally, pawpaw has significantly higher amounts of magnesium, iron, manganese, and zinc, as well as potent antioxidants comparable to strawberries and citrus fruits.

Why did pawpaw disappear from commercial markets despite its nutritional benefits?

Pawpaw's shelf life is very short, making it impractical for mass production and distribution. Unlike apples, which can be stored and shipped easily, pawpaw bruises easily and deteriorates quickly, making it unsuitable for the global agricultural system built around hardier fruits.

What is the significance of pawpaw in Native American culture?

Pawpaw was a key part of Native American diets and cultural practices. It provided food, medicine, and materials like fibers for cordage and seeds for insect repellent. The fruit played a central role in seasonal activities, with communities organizing around its harvest, which was considered an important event.

Who were some of the notable figures that advocated for pawpaw in American history?

Notable figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson advocated for pawpaw. Washington enjoyed pawpaw as a dessert, while Jefferson even planted pawpaw trees at Monticello and attempted to send pawpaw seeds to Europe to solve its short shelf-life issues.

What role did pawpaw play during the Lewis and Clark expedition?

Pawpaw was crucial to the survival of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1806. When their supplies ran out, the explorers relied on pawpaw fruit for sustenance, allowing them to avoid starvation and make it to the next settlement.

What challenges do farmers face when growing pawpaw?

Growing pawpaw requires specific conditions such as rich, moist soils and partial shade. The trees also take 7 years or more to produce fruit, and the pollination process is unusual, as pawpaw flowers attract flies and beetles, not bees. This makes commercial farming of pawpaw difficult.

Why do pawpaw flowers require flies and beetles for pollination?

Pawpaw flowers produce a scent that attracts flies and beetles, which are attracted to decaying matter, rather than bees. This unusual pollination method makes pawpaw farming even more challenging, as it requires creating an environment that draws these insects.

How did modern agricultural practices contribute to the decline of pawpaw?

Modern agricultural practices prioritize fruits that are easy to grow, store, and ship. Pawpaw, with its specific growing requirements, short shelf life, and fragile fruit, did not fit into the efficient, large-scale systems that supermarkets rely on. This caused it to fade from commercial agriculture.

What is the difference between the growing conditions of pawpaw and apples?

Pawpaw prefers partial shade and moist, rich soils, often growing in forested areas. Apples, on the other hand, require full sunlight and specific soil conditions. This makes pawpaw more difficult to cultivate on a large scale compared to apples.

What is the historical significance of pawpaw in the early American colonies?

Pawpaw was widely used by Native Americans long before European settlers arrived. Early European explorers and settlers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, appreciated the fruit. It became a staple food for settlers, explorers, and even presidents, but it eventually disappeared from mainstream markets due to agricultural and logistical challenges.