This story was reported by WHRO News.
The Historic Endview Plantation in Newport News has an abundance of paw paw trees, making it the ideal place to celebrate the unique fruit native to Virginia.
Endview’s 25 acres are home to “a ton of paw paw trees,” said Laura Willoughby, historic site coordinator for the city.
The city's fourth annual Pawpaw Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, is a partnership between Newport News Parks and Recreation and the Peninsula chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists.
The paw paw fruit is the larger of Virginia's two native tree fruits; the other native tree fruit is the persimmon. Paw paws are easy to harvest because they fall off the tree when they ripen.
Willoughby said the first festival happened just as events restarted following the pandemic.
“We thought it was a unique way to get people out while they can still social distance,” she said.
There were about 200 people at the first event. Last year, the event brought in nearly 1,300 people, Willoughby said.
Tree samplings will be available this year and there will be several environmental organizations offering demonstrations and activities.
There will be paw paw tastings and free recipes to make creative dishes.
“The recipes range from using it in ice cream to breads,” Willoughby said.
There will be seven 30-minute lectures, raffles and the Peninsula Master Naturalists will offer trail tours.
Free tours of the Endview Plantation home will also be available.
Built by William Harwood in 1769, it remained in the family until 1985. The Georgian-style house on Yorktown Road is close to the route taken by the Continental Army and Virginia militia on their advance to the 1781 battle that ended the Revolutionary War.
For a $5 cash donation, visitors can get a bag to fill with paw paws they can pick from trees.
According to the Virginia Native Plant Society, paw paws are easily bruised, so they aren’t typically sold in commercial settings.
The fruit typically ripens in late August through September and has been known to be found along the James River.
For those who haven’t tried a paw paw, the Native Plant Society notes its skin isn’t edible, but the fruit itself has a texture like custard and a flavor that is compared to “very ripe bananas, with hints of melon, or even pineapple, papaya and mango.”
The Paw Paw festival will be Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Historic Endview in Newport News. Admission is free, more information can be found at Historic Newport News
