Pawpaws not any old fruit, and this isn’t any old festival [View all]

My grandfather always had pawpaws and shared them with family. Mostly they ate them like any fruit but my grandmother also made pawpaw butter. I'll bet a lot of folks these days have never seen nor eaten a pawpaw, which is a shame. I've always wondered why they're not more common, since they are easy to grow and very nutritious.

http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-43180-pawpaws-not-any-old-fruit-and-this-isnrst-any-old-festival.html
The Athens News
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Pawpaws not any old fruit, and this isn’t any old festival

Thousands are expected to attend the 16th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival this weekend at Lake Snowden Park near Albany, southwest of Athens, to celebrate the state's official native fruit - the pawpaw.

The three-day event will highlight pawpaw music, local food and craft beers, contests, art, history, education, sustainable living workshops and kids' activities. One of the biggest attractions is a full lineup of bands and performers on each day of the festival.

According to the description in a news release for the festival: "The pawpaw is a nutritious fruit that is known for its creamy texture, similar to a banana or mango, and tropical flavor. In fact, the pawpaw has a stronger nutritional value than apples, peaches and grapes, and is high in protein. Southern Ohio is home to some of the largest and best-tasting pawpaw patches in the world.

In the release, Paige Alost, executive director of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau, stated, "Visitors to this unique festival will gather to experience local cuisine and craft beers while enjoying entertainment and family fun amidst the beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation activities of southern Ohio."... MORE at link posted above.