Pawpaw enthusiasts from around the world were at Kentucky State University this week for the Fifth International Pawpaw Conference. The three-day event was held at the school’s Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, just 100 yards or so away from the school’s own pawpaw patch. Kirk Pomper is a professor of horticulture at KSU. He said there’s a good reason four of the five conferences have been held there.
“We really are known as the national and international leaders in pawpaws. And so our program is world-renowned, and people look to us to actually give them the information and the varieties to help pawpaw be successful wherever it's being grown,” Pomper explained.
Some pawpaw enthusiasts call it a green potato. Depending on the strain, it tastes a bit like mango, pineapple, banana – or all three. Pomper said KSU’s studies and collaborations are paying off for pawpaw farmers and consumers.
“We've been able to take those, grow those out, make crosses with that material, and look at it, and keep trying to cross and breed for better pawpaws,” he said.
About 200 pawpaw researchers, farmers, and fans spent Tuesday through Thursday at the Benson farm. One of the presenters was the Ale-8-One official who collaborated with KSU to develop the company’s pawpaw-flavored soft drink.
Daphne Phipps said it’s Ale-8-One’s most popular limited-time-only flavor and has spurred interest in the largest North American fruit among people who’d never tried it before.
