We’re sitting down with our guide, Chad who is celebrating one year with Urban Hikes KC this month. He came on our team because he had a creative idea to lead a Pawpaw Hike, highlighting this special fruit which is native to the area that many Kansas Citians don’t know about. Chad tell us a little more:
What inspired you to create a Pawpaw Hike?
I remember the sense of awe I felt when I found my first pawpaw and I wanted others to feel that too. I realized that the pawpaw fit perfectly with Urban Hikes KC’s mission to connect with others while exploring hidden parts of the city. The pawpaw is hidden in plain sight and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’ll pass you by and you’ll miss out on one of the most unique fruits in the world.
What part of the fruit family and what does it taste like?
The two most well known cousins are the the soursop and cherimoya. All belong to the annonaceae or custard apple family. What makes the pawpaw unique are all the different flavor notes you get when biting into one. It’s custardy like a banana and sweet like a mango but also has hints of pineapple. Essentially, a tropical fruit right smack dab in the heart of America. Yeah, that’s right: A TROPICAL FRUIT RIGHT HERE IN KC!
This hike is called “The Story of the Pawpaw Hike” because the pawpaw is more than just a fruit. Can you tell us a little more about what makes the pawpaw so unique?
It’s a metaphor for all of us who have had to adapt to new conditions in unfamiliar environments far from family. It’s the only member of the annonaceae family that grows in the United States, the rest of its relatives are tropical and subtropical. And it’s role in our region’s history can’t be ignored since it helped feed members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the story of the pawpaw is the story of us.
If someone can’t make it out to find pawpaws during our planned hikes, where else do you recommend they look for them? Wyandotte County Lake Trails, Parkville Nature Sanctuary, Hidden Valley Trails….
Honestly, they are everywhere in the metro area. Just pay attention. They prefer to grow near water and in shady areas and their large green leaves are a dead giveaway.
Are you inspired to highlight the native pawpaw in Kansas City in any other ways?
At some point, I’d love to be a part of a fall festival like 13 other states are doing this year to celebrate its harvest and all it means our country. In the interim, I will just stick to being an ambassador for this exotic fruit. I hope to see you out on the pawpaw trail next month.
Thank you Chad for sharing the story of the pawpaw fruit and how it relates to each one of us.
We can’t wait to search for pawpaws and toast with some pawpaw soda at our upcoming Pawpaw Hikes- Sept 11, 18 at 5:30pm or Sept 26 at 9am.
