National Pawpaw Day
September 17
About National Pawpaw Day
National Pawpaw Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of September each year, putting the spotlight on North America’s largest native fruit. In 2026, it falls on Thursday, 17 September. The day was created to rescue the pawpaw from obscurity and connect people with a remarkable fruit that once played a central role in both Indigenous food culture and early American history.
How to Celebrate National Pawpaw Day
Whether you’re a long-time pawpaw enthusiast or are trying this unusual fruit for the first time, there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion:
- Try a fresh pawpaw – If you live in the eastern United States, late September is prime pawpaw season. Check local farmers’ markets, orchards, or farm stalls for fresh fruit. Eat it at room temperature for the best flavour experience.
- Make a pawpaw recipe – Pawpaw’s custard-like flesh works beautifully in smoothies, ice cream, bread, cake, and puddings. Its tropical sweetness is a revelation to first-time tasters.
- Attend a pawpaw festival – Ohio University’s Ohio Pawpaw Festival in Albany, Ohio, is one of the most celebrated pawpaw events in the country, typically held in mid-September and featuring tastings, cooking contests, and educational talks.
- Plant a pawpaw tree – Pawpaws are hardy trees native to the eastern United States and Canada, thriving in a range of climates. Planting one supports local biodiversity and provides a fruit source for years to come.
- Share the history – Tell friends and family about the pawpaw’s remarkable story: its role in the diet of Native American peoples, its connection to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and its near-disappearance from the American table.
- Support pawpaw research – Kentucky State University (KSU) runs the world’s only full-time pawpaw research programme. Learning about and sharing their work helps the scientific community receive the recognition it deserves.
- Visit a local orchard – Some specialist orchards in the eastern US grow pawpaws alongside more familiar fruits. Arrange a visit and pick your own during peak season.
- Cook something unexpected – Go beyond fruit salad and try pawpaw salsa, pawpaw margaritas, or pawpaw-glazed chicken. The fruit’s bold tropical notes pair well with savoury dishes too.
What is National Pawpaw Day?
National Pawpaw Day is an annual US observance created in 2019 by Kentucky State University to raise awareness of the pawpaw (Asimina triloba), North America’s largest native fruit. The pawpaw is a tropical-tasting fruit with a yellow-orange custard-like flesh, often described as a cross between mango and banana. Despite being native to the eastern United States and Canada, it remains largely unknown to most Americans, having virtually disappeared from mainstream markets over the course of the 20th century.
When is National Pawpaw Day?
National Pawpaw Day falls on the third Thursday of September each year. In 2026, this is Thursday, 17 September. Because the date is variable, it shifts from year to year.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, 17 September |
| 2027 | Thursday, 16 September |
| 2028 | Thursday, 21 September |
| 2029 | Thursday, 20 September |
| 2030 | Thursday, 19 September |
The History of National Pawpaw Day
The pawpaw’s story in North America stretches back thousands of years. Indigenous peoples across the eastern United States, including the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Potawatomi, relied on pawpaws as a significant dietary staple and used the tree’s bark fibre to make rope and mats. The earliest documented European mention of pawpaws appears in a report of Hernando de Soto’s 1539-1541 expedition through what is now the southeastern United States.
By the time of the American Revolution, pawpaws were well established as part of the American larder. George Washington reportedly preferred chilled pawpaw as a dessert, and Thomas Jefferson cultivated the trees at Monticello, his Virginia estate. The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 relied on pawpaws when other food sources ran short, with Meriwether Lewis recording them as a lifesaving provision.
Despite this remarkable heritage, the pawpaw largely disappeared from American markets and diets during the 20th century. Its short shelf life (it spoils within a few days of ripening), fragile skin, and poor performance in commercial distribution networks meant that large-scale food producers overlooked it in favour of easier-to-handle fruits. By the mid-20th century, most Americans had never heard of the pawpaw. National Pawpaw Day was established in 2019 by Kentucky State University, home of the world’s only full-time pawpaw research programme, to reverse this trend and reconnect people with one of the continent’s most distinctive and delicious native foods.
Fun Facts About National Pawpaw Day
- The pawpaw is the largest fruit native to North America, with individual fruits weighing up to half a kilogram.
- The pawpaw’s flavour is often described as a blend of mango, banana, and vanilla custard, making it unlike any other temperate fruit.
- Kentucky State University runs the world’s only full-time pawpaw research programme, developing new cultivars and growing techniques.
- The pawpaw tree belongs to the Annonaceae family, making it a relative of tropical fruits such as cherimoya and soursop.
- George Washington reportedly loved chilled pawpaw for dessert, and Thomas Jefferson grew the trees at his Monticello estate in Virginia.
- There are over 60 known varieties of pawpaw, with names such as Shenandoah, Mango, and Sunflower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Pawpaw Day?
National Pawpaw Day is an annual US observance on the third Thursday of September, created by Kentucky State University in 2019 to raise awareness of North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw, and its long-forgotten culinary and cultural heritage.
When is National Pawpaw Day in 2026?
National Pawpaw Day falls on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
Where can I buy a pawpaw?
Pawpaws are available from specialist orchards, farmers’ markets, and some natural food stores in the eastern United States during late September and early October, their peak season. They are rarely found in supermarkets due to their short shelf life.
Spread the Word
Help revive this forgotten American treasure by sharing your pawpaw experiences on social media with #NationalPawpawDay and #NationalPawpawDay2026. Tag a friend who’s never tried a pawpaw and challenge them to find one this September!
Related Awareness Days
- National Mushroom Month – Also celebrated throughout September, this observance highlights another overlooked and fascinating food with deep American agricultural roots.
- National Italian Cheese Month – A September observance celebrating artisan food traditions and the joy of discovering lesser-known culinary specialities.
- National Rice Month – Running throughout September, this month celebrates another cornerstone of the American food landscape with deep cultural roots.
Links
- Visit the National Pawpaw Day page on National Day Calendar
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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