Pawpaws go by a lot of names – Appalachian banana, bandango, custard apple, Indiana banana – but their Linnaean name (Asimina triloba) comes from a group of Indigenous tribes native to the Upper Mississippi Valley that called the fruit asimines. Pawpaws have played an important role throughout the history of North America: they were a common food for many Native tribes, they’ve been eaten in times of war and economic hardship, and they’ve been prized for their beloved flavor!

Today, several universities have programs studying their cultivation and market potential, and you can find pawpaw festivals in at least nine different states! This year, Foraged is sponsoring the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, one of the biggest events dedicated to this native fruit!