While Georgia is known for its apples and peaches, neither of those fruits are native to the state, (or even the country, apples came from Europe, peaches from China). Native fruits include blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, as well as crabapples, and the largest native fruit in North America – the pawpaw. Georgia is one of the only places on the continent where the large, ‘custardy’ fruit trees can be found. They grow especially well along riverbeds in Georgia’s piedmont region, and are only ripe for a small window between August and October. During that time enthusiasts travel up and down rivers, like the Savannah River in southeast Georgia, looking for the four-to-six inch long fruit where it likes to grow on its shady banks. Some Georgia companies, like the Etowah Meadery in north Georgia, are integrating the pawpaw into their beverages.
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