Pawpaws: The Complete Growing and Marketing Guide

“With this valuable book, you can pawpaw your own food forests, restoring the diversity, abundance, and climate we all need.” —Albert Bates, permaculture instructor, ecovillage designer, author of The Biochar SolutionPawpaws is the first in-depth guide to small-scale commercial cultivation of pawpaws. Also known as Indiana bananas or hipster bananas, this almost forgotten fruit, native to North America, is making a huge comeback with foodies, chefs, craft brewers, and discerning fruit-lovers.Written by, and for, the organic grower, coverage includes:Botany and the cultural history of pawpawsOrchard siting and planningChoosing the best-quality nursery treesDescriptions of over fifty cultivarsPropagation and organic growing tipsPests and disease managementMarketing and selling fresh pawpaws, seeds, and startsProcessing and producing value-added products.Get ahead of the farming curve, diversify your orchard or food forest, and discover the commercial potential of America’s almost forgotten native fruit with this comprehensive manual to small-scale commercial pawpaw production.“Blake Cothron is an authority on pawpaws and provides a clear, detailed guide for commercial success in growing this ‘oddly appealing species’ (his own words). The supply of this exotic, trending, easy-to-grow fruit has not yet met the demand. Blake shares the wealth of his knowledge, including challenges—and when he doesn’t know, he says so (it’s probable that others don’t know either).” —Pam Dawling, author of Sustainable Market Farming“The pawpaw’s revival is long overdue. Blake Cothron’s Pawpaws will help bring about the day when fragrant fruit is no longer a rare treat, but a regular part of our seasonal diet.” —Darrell E. Frey, Three Sisters Farm, author of Bioshelter Market Garden Read more