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- Food & Beverage
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- Fruit
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- United States
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- Third Thursday of September
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- 🥭
National Pawpaw Day arrives every third Thursday in September, celebrating North America’s largest native fruit. This unique, creamy fruit, often described as a blend of mango and banana, has over 60 varieties and a rich history. Explore its forgotten flavors, learn about its cultivation, and find delicious ways to incorporate pawpaws into your autumn menu.
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Expected National Pawpaw Day Deals
While pawpaws are not widely commercialized, National Pawpaw Day is an excellent opportunity for local markets and specialty grocers to highlight this unique fruit. Look for farmers’ markets to offer fresh pawpaws and pawpaw-infused products from local producers like Integration Acres or Peterson Pawpaws. Craft breweries and distilleries might release limited-edition pawpaw beers or spirits. Specialty food brands such as Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (known for seasonal flavors) could feature pawpaw desserts. Online retailers specializing in rare fruits, like Miami Fruit, may offer fresh shipments. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 17 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Pawpaw Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalPawpawDay. Share vibrant photos of pawpaws, pawpaw recipes, or your visit to a local pawpaw festival.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalPawpawDay. Film a ‘taste test’ video, demonstrate how to open and eat a pawpaw, or showcase a unique pawpaw dish.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalPawpawDay. Share articles about pawpaw cultivation, its history, or local events celebrating the fruit.
National Pawpaw Day Hero
William Bartram
History of National Pawpaw Day
Before Europeans arrived in North America, Native American groups from Florida to the Midwest used the pawpaw in a myriad of ways. The Iroquois made small cakes or fruit jerky from it, and other groups like the Osage and Algonquin also included it in their diets. The versatile fruit can be eaten raw or cooked into breads and sweets. It can grow to about 6 inches and has a uniquely custard-like, creamy texture, strong fragrance, and notably sweet flavor reminiscent of mangos and bananas.
The Spanish became aware of it during Hernando de Soto’s 1540 expedition. A favorite of the Founding Fathers, it was supposedly George Washington’s favorite dessert and cultivated by Thomas Jefferson, who shipped pawpaw seeds to France during his time there. Later on, Lewis and Clark wrote of subsisting on pawpaws when they ran out of other food while on their expedition charting the American West. During the Great Depression, the pawpaw became a popular substitute for other, more scarce fruit, leading to a new nickname, the “poor man’s banana.”
After the end of World War II, the introduction of other exotic fruits led to a decline in popularity for the pawpaw, whose short shelf life makes it difficult to store in large supermarkets. Today, it can be found mostly in farmers’ markets, and is still prized for its unusual texture and sweetness. Each September, Ohioans celebrate the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, where attendees can sample different pawpaw preparations, enter contests and cookoffs, and celebrate this uniquely American fruit.
While many people have never tasted the sweet, custard-like fruit, National Pawpaw Day sets out to change that. This seasonal fruit enjoys a peak harvest time from late August through the first frost. Given that markets and festivals across the country offer samples, there’s ample opportunity to savor the taste of pawpaw!
National Pawpaw Day timeline
The Spanish discovered pawpaws during Hernando de Soto's Mississippi expedition, when an expedition member noticed Indigenous people cultivating it.
During a particularly lean time on their expedition to map the American West, Lewis and Clark subsisted on pawpaws when they ran out of almost everything else.
During the Great Depression, when other fruit became scarce and expensive, the pawpaw stood in for more tropical imports like bananas.
Founded by Kentucky State University, National Pawpaw Day celebrates and raises awareness of this tasty and unique fruit and promotes research and cultivation.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Pawpaw Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Pawpaw Day by featuring the fruit in their offerings. Restaurants could create special pawpaw desserts, smoothies, or even savory dishes. Bakeries might offer pawpaw custards or breads. Farmers’ markets should prominently display fresh pawpaws and provide information on how to ripen and use them. Local breweries could brew a limited-edition pawpaw ale, drawing attention to this unique regional flavor.
National Pawpaw Day FAQs
When is National Pawpaw Day?
National Pawpaw Day 2026 falls on Thursday, September 17, inviting enthusiasts to celebrate North America’s largest native fruit. This is the perfect time to explore its unique flavors and culinary potential.
What does a pawpaw taste like?
The pawpaw’s flavor is often described as a creamy, tropical blend of banana, mango, and sometimes pineapple or melon. Its custard-like texture and sweet aroma make it a unique culinary experience.
Where do pawpaws grow?
Pawpaws are native to the eastern, southern, and Midwestern United States, growing in 26 states. They thrive in temperate climates and are often found in the understory of forests, particularly near rivers and streams.
Is the pawpaw a superfood?
While not officially labeled a ‘superfood,’ pawpaws are incredibly nutritious, packed with vitamins A and C, magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium. They also contain more protein than most other fruits.
How to Celebrate National Pawpaw Day
Attend a Pawpaw Festival
There are dozens of annual festivals and events celebrating the pawpaw, particularly in regions where the fruit is grown. Look for one near you!
Sample some pawpaws
Are you one of the many people who have never tasted pawpaws? Check farmers’ markets in your area to see if you can find a few varieties to try.
Try cooking with pawpaws
Find an interesting recipe and try your hand at using this sweet fruit to create a delicious pawpaw bread, fruit leather, or pudding.
5 Delicious Pawpaw Recipes
Pawpaw pudding
Use your favorite banana pudding recipe and swap out the bananas with pawpaws. They'll give the pudding a surprising and mellow flavor!
Pawpaw bread
Mixed with copious amounts of sugar and flour, the pawpaw creates an excellent addition to cakes and quick breads.
Pawpaw beer
Fruit-flavored beer is gaining in popularity, and the pawpaw lends its unique flavor perfectly to craft brews.
Pawpaw sorbet
With its creamy texture, the pawpaw makes a delicious substitute in any mango sorbet recipe.
Pawpaw jam
The sweetness of pawpaws make them an excellent candidate for long-simmering homemade jams and preserves.
Why We Love National Pawpaw Day
The pawpaw is a forgotten fruit
Although it played a major role in early American history through the mid-20th century, the pawpaw has almost been forgotten. National Pawpaw Day reminds us to appreciate this tasty and versatile fruit.
It’s a fascinating native North American fruit
The pawpaw is the U.S.’s largest native fruit, grows in many parts of the country, and tastes like the tropics!
It has a unique texture
Not many fruits have the creamy, custardy texture of the pawpaw. Have you ever tried something similar, like the Central American cherimoya?
National Pawpaw Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 18 | Thursday |
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