Join us for a fun Sunday morning trek through a selected forest less than 10 miles from Washington, DC as we search for America's "forgotten fruit", the elusive Paw Paw (Asimina Triloba). We have been foraging this patch (location to be disclosed after sign-up) for the past few years and we are certain to locate some old trees. These amazing native fruits come from the Ohio River Valley, were cultivated by the Founding Fathers and Native Americans alike, and are the largest fruit that is native to North America! Tasting somewhere like a cross between a mango and banana, pawpaws are the only temperate member of a tropical fruit family including soursop, sweetsop, custard apple, and cherimoya, and are basically non-existent at grocery stores, so this is your chance to stock up! Harvested fruit can be eaten fresh, dehydrated, frozen, or turned into jam, jelly, smoothies, pies, ice cream, or even beer- the options are endless!
Starting at around 9 AM, we will meet at our predetermined nearby forest location to go over some foraging basics, how to ID pawpaw and other fall fruits, and then begin our forage walk and hunt for pawpaws! Make sure to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, some light snacks in case you get hungry, and of course a bag to keep your harvest in.
Recently, the cultivation of pawpaw for fruit production has taken off with backyard and organic growers due to its distinctive growth habit, lack of pests, the appeal of its fresh fruit, and relatively low maintenance once established. If you would like to add a tree to your garden, please reserved the appropriate ticket as we have an extremely limited quantity of available trees.
We suggest car-pooling to get to the forest-site and coordinating with other attendees that may be able to offer a ride if you do not have access to a car. We also have ticket options available with transportation- hope to see you soon and happy foraging!
Masks will be required during the portion of the event when we are all gathered together; as we disperse to forage you are welcome to take off your masks as comfortable, but ask that you still maintain at least 6 ft from other participants, not in your immediate group.
***FINAL DESTINATION FOR FORAGE WALK WILL BE DISCLOSED AFTER REGISTRATION***