More And More West Virginians Are Tasting The Delicious, Wild “Appalachian Banana” This Fall
Wild wineberries have come and gone for the year, as have ramps, morels, wild blueberries, and wild blackberries. But there are a few native foods remaining to be foraged yet this fall, and one of them is the delicious, juicy, Appalachian banana: the Paw Paw.

And while many of us are already familiar with this tasty fruit, others who have never tried it before are planning to taste it for the first time this fall, thanks to more time spent outside in nature this year than usual. If you've always wanted to learn more about this fruit, or try a taste for yourself, here's what you need to know.


If you think the leaves look a bit tropical, you're right: the paw paw is a member of the Annonaceae family, which contains mostly tropical plants.



Perhaps that's how it earned its nickname, the Appalachian Banana.

Paw paws typically ripen in early to mid-September, so keep an eye out for them as you explore. They seem to especially thrive on a river’s edge. Are you planning to try paw paws for the first time this year or do you look forward to them each fall? What’s your favorite way to eat them?
Oh, and there’s even a town in West Virginia named after the Appalachian banana: Paw Paw!
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Address: West Virginia, USA