Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

The all-American fruit you’ve probably never heard of

It’s delicious and easy to grow, but you probably won’t see it in your supermarket anytime soon.

The pawpaw is the largest edible fruit native to the United States and has played an important part in American history. It was a vital dietary staple for early settlers, Lewis and Clark subsisted largely on pawpaws and nuts on many of their expeditions, and the fruit is said to have been one of George Washington’s favorites.

Pawpaws are delicious, have incredible health benefits, and require no pesticides or herbicides to thrive. Yet over the years, they have fallen into obscurity, being eclipsed in popularity by other fruit like apples, cherries, and bananas. What happened to the pawpaw, and what is fueling its recent renaissance in American agriculture?

You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. Subscribe for the latest.

See More:

More in Video

Video
What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?
Play
Video

How The Lord of the Rings lore helps explain the mysterious tech company.

By Benjamin Stephen
America, Actually
The progressive plan to reclaim the working classThe progressive plan to reclaim the working class
Podcast
America, Actually

Progressive caucus chair Rep. Greg Casar on his movement’s new playbook.

By Astead Herndon
Video
The Department of Holy WarThe Department of Holy War
Play
Video

What Pete Hegseth’s fascination with the Crusades can tell us about the war in Iran.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?
Play
Video

A jury ruled Live Nation and Ticketmaster a monopoly, but what that means for ticket prices is not so simple.

By Frank Posillico
Eating the Ocean
Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?
Play
Eating the Ocean

America’s fishing paradox.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Why Americans can’t escape credit card debtWhy Americans can’t escape credit card debt
Play
Video

Credit card APRs are now as high as 20 percent.

By Frank Posillico