Although Athens County has held an annual festival in honor of the pawpaw for the last 10 years, Ohio's edible indigenous fruit was only recently recognized on a statewide level.
Gov. Ted Strickland signed a bill last week naming the pawpaw the native state fruit of Ohio, and giving the tomato the title of official state fruit.
Since he attended the Ohio Pawpaw Festival in Albany about five years ago, State Senator Jimmy Stewart, R-20, had been trying to get the pawpaw legislative recognition during his terms as state representative for the 92nd district from 2003-2008.
After facing competition from first the apple and then the tomato, Stewart found success by slotting the pawpaw as Ohio's native fruit in the most recent bill.
It's a tourism draw
Stewart said. There are many people in the region who grow as well as process pawpaws.
Chris Chmiel, co-owner of Integration Acres in Athens and one of the founders of the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, said the fruit's new status could act as a marketing strategy for pawpaw growers.
At Integration Acres, growers harvest wild pawpaws in addition to cultivating their own trees, which are organically fertilized with goat manure. Around Athens, pawpaws typically sell for $5 to $10 a pound depending on size and quality, Chmiel said.
We're just trying to educate people (about) the fruit. No one knows about pawpaws
he said. They're super-nutritious.
With a texture comparable to an avocado's fruit and a taste that blends tropical flavors such as banana and mango, the pawpaw is native to 26 states, according to the Kentucky State University pawpaw research program.
In order to introduce the pawpaw into the mainstream market, however, there need to be
improvements in shipping and preserving the fruit, said Ron Powell, president of the Ohio Pawpaw Grower's Association.
(The legislation) just helps with the overall credibility of pawpaws as a viable
sustainable fruit for Ohio
he said.
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Meghan McNamara
