Pawpaw Fruits Hit by Extreme Weather, Climate Change Blamed [Video]

The severe drought that has been plaguing Ohio, along with shifting climate patterns, is taking a toll on North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw.

Often described in taste as a blend of mango and banana, this avocado-sized fruit enjoys a faithful following, yet remains a rarity in grocery stores due to its fleeting shelf life.

Stretching from Ontario to South Florida, pawpaw trees thrive along the East Coast.

However, in regions like Ohio—home to an annual pawpaw festival—and Kentucky, growers are noting some alarming changes this season: earlier-than-usual harvests and a pronounced bitterness in the fruit, likely linked to erratic weather that includes spring freezes and persistent drought.

Valerie Libbey, who manages an orchard in Washington Court House, Ohio, has observed these shifts firsthand. With 100 pawpaw trees, she was alarmed to see fruit falling from the branches in early August, a full month ahead of the typical mid-September …