Pawpaws are Iowa’s “exotic fruit.” These trees take from 7 to 12 years to fruit and are one of the few fruits pollinated by carrion flies. This is a soft fruit tastes like a light custard. It is an oval shape ranging from 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 5 inches in diameter, with large almond-shaped seeds. There are many cultivars available that allow a grower to select for harvest windows, size, flavor and flesh. They bruise easily and therefore are best for U-pick operations or processed into a pulp for sweet breads or ice cream or for sale to chefs.