Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

fruitperennial Zone 5–8

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is North America's largest native edible fruit, a perennial understory tree producing custard-like fruit tasting of banana-mango. Suitable for Zones 5-8 with adequate frost-free days and chill; low-input crop needing cross-pollination.

23/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue

$4,200

/acre

Net Return

-$2,000

/acre

Price Trend

increasing

Establishment Cost

$25,000

/acre

Crop Insurance

None

Years to Production

years

Overview

Growing Season

Plant: Early spring (dormant, after budbreak) – Early spring (dormant, after budbreak)
Harvest: Sep-Oct – Sep-Oct
Frost-free days: 160+
GDD (base 50°F): 2,600

Yield

Typical yield: 9,000 lbs/acre
Productive lifespan: 30 years
Years to full prod.: 5

100%

Market Fit

4/6

Active Regional Buyers

Limited or developing buyer network in this region

Price Trend Stable/Up

Price trending upward due to growing demand

Supply Below Demand

Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally

Multiple Buyer Channels

Limited market channels; primarily single outlet

Value-Added Potential

Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products

Market Growth Projected

Strong market growth projected

Market Channels

farmers_market · Primary fresh-fruit outlet. Limited shelf life (2–3 days at room temperature) makes short, direct supply chains ideal. Novel native fruit attracts curious consumers who pay a premium for the unique custard-like flavor.

direct_to_consumer · Farm stands, on-farm sales, and pre-order/pickup arrangements work well. Frozen pulp shipped to consumers via mail order extends the selling window beyond the 4–6 week harvest.

restaurant · Chefs feature pawpaw in seasonal desserts, ice cream, and cocktails when available. Demand is concentrated in farm-to-table operations; relationship-building and reliable delivery are essential.

csa · Short harvest window and rapid post-harvest softening make pawpaw a novelty CSA addition rather than a staple. Best deployed as a one-week feature share with clear handling instructions for members.

wholesale · Fresh wholesale is essentially impractical due to fruit fragility and short shelf life. Frozen pulp wholesale to bakeries, craft brewers, distillers, and ice-cream makers is the only viable wholesale model.

retail · Local independent groceries and food co-ops occasionally stock fresh pawpaw during peak season. Mainstream supermarket distribution is rare. Value-added retail (frozen pulp, jam, ice cream) is more accessible.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Region's hardiness zone within crop range (5.0-8.0)

GDD Sufficient

Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (2600)

Precipitation Compatible

Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs

Frost-Free Season OK

Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (160 days)

Chill Hours Met

Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (90+)

Climate Trend Favorable

Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

silt_loam (ideal)loam (ideal)sandy_loam (suitable)clay_loam (suitable)silty_clay_loam (suitable)loamy_sand (marginal)sand (marginal)clay (marginal)sandy_clay_loam (suitable)silty_clay (poor)

Drainage

well_drained (ideal)moderately_well_drained (ideal)somewhat_excessively_drained (suitable)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)excessively_drained (marginal)poorly_drained (marginal)very_poorly_drained (marginal)

Infrastructure Fit

4/6

Equipment Compatible

Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure

Storage Available

Specialized or limited storage; perishable product needs immediate handling

Irrigation Compatible

Low water needs or rain-fed viable

Field Layout Suitable

Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop

Labor Availability

Labor needs manageable with existing farm workforce

Processing Proximity

No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping

Storage Requirements

Fresh cold storage

Temperature

39–41°F

Humidity

85–95%

Max Storage

21 days

Ambient short-term display

Temperature

60–72°F

Humidity

60–80%

Max Storage

3 days

Frozen pulp

Temperature

-10–0°F

Max Storage

365 days

Finance Fit

3/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue ($36,000/acre) exceeds regional average

Input Costs Acceptable

Input costs are low to moderate

Payback Period OK

Long establishment period (5 years); extended payback

Insurance Available

No federal crop insurance; NAP may be available for some disaster scenarios

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Labor-intensive; revenue per labor hour may be modest

Grants/Subsidies

Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit	$4/per lb
Gross Revenue/Acre	$4,200
Annual Operating Cost	—/acre
Establishment Cost	$25,000/acre
Total Input Cost	—/acre
Net Return/Acre	-$2,000
Revenue/Labor Hour	—
Crop Insurance	Not available

Source: University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification — Pawpaw (2025)

Risk Fit

6/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM

Market Diversified

Market access diversified across multiple channels

Low Establishment Risk

Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning

Climate Resilient

Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region

Regulatory Burden Low

Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale

Diversifies Portfolio

Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture

Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.

Nutritional Yield

Nutrition data pending.

Research agents will profile Pawpaw against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem service data pending.

The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:

No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.

Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →

41 tracked changes across 7 data categories