Seeds of opportunity: 'Exotic' fruit has Ontario roots

摘要

A tree producing fruit that tastes like a combination of mango and banana might seem best-suited to a tropical climate, but the common pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is native to southwestern Ontario; it can also be grown in southern British Columbia and Quebec.Although the pawpaw is considered one of the oldest native fruits in North America, wild plants are teetering on the brink of extinction. Growers, recognizing the potential in the sweet, custard-like flesh of the fruits, are helping bring the pawpaw back.