A pawpaw is a fruit that grows wild in parts of eastern North America, especially in forests and along rivers from the Great Lakes down to Florida. The fruit is about the size of a potato, with yellowish-green skin that turns brownish when ripe. Inside, the soft, custard-like flesh tastes like a blend of banana, mango, and melon, which surprises people who've never tried one before.

Pawpaws grow on small trees in the understory of forests, meaning they thrive in the shade of larger trees. Native Americans ate pawpaws for thousands of years, and early European settlers relied on them too. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both loved pawpaws. Despite this history, pawpaws remain relatively unknown today because they bruise easily and spoil quickly, making them hard to sell in grocery stores. You'll most likely find them at farmers markets in late summer and early autumn, or growing wild if you know where to look.

The pawpaw is North America's largest native fruit, and some people are working to make it more popular again. If you ever spot one, you'll recognize it by its tropical flavor, which seems almost out of place in a temperate forest.