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Apples, oranges, and bananas are sold in abundance in supermarkets across the country,

but some say the most American fruit is one you'll likely never see in the produce department,

and it's one you've probably never heard of, the pawpaw.

Our deemazane bites into the long history of this forgotten fruit.

Happy Papa Sunday.

In Southeast Ohio, a 27-year tradition has taken root, an annual celebration of a little-known fruit

with a cult following.

Have you had a paw-paw here in Appalachia? The pawpaw is sort of like, I'd say one of the stars of the native plants that we have. There's a seed in there.

Chris Schmeel is the founder of the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, where this star is center stage.

In events like the Pawpaw cookoff. I'm kind of struggling with picking up on notes of Papa.

And a range of Papa inspired swag and refreshments from Papa T-shirts and pottery to pop-up beer and even.

A Papa iced mashaw latte with oat milk.

For Schmeel, the festival is meant in part to spread the word about this lesser-known native fruit.

When somebody gets a chance to eat a papa at the right time, and they have that initial, like, whoa, it's just a good hook.

That instant surprise comes from an unexpected taste that many find hard to peg.

I would describe the taste of a pawpaw kind of like a mango.

Maybe with a little bit of papaya or stone fruit.

...