The unpredictable bouts of extreme weather due to climate change hurting some traditional crops has made pawpaws an appealing alternative. Pawpaws are North America’s largest native fruit and are exceedingly rare, found mainly in the wild across 26 states or in small orchards in Appalachia, where the trees have historically thrived. Praised for their flavor, which is sometimes described as a cross between a mango and banana with the texture of a ripe avocado. The custard-like fruit is an ideal spoonable dessert.