Ever heard of the pawpaw? 🍈 It's North America's largest native fruit, tasting like a dreamy mix of mango and banana! 😋 But lately, this hidden gem is feeling the heat—literally.
In Ohio and Kentucky, where pawpaws usually thrive, growers are noticing some alarming changes. Valerie Libbey, who owns an orchard near Columbus, was shocked when her pawpaws started dropping a whole month early! 🕐
\"I walked into the orchard, and the smell of ripe fruit just hit me,\" Valerie said. \"But it was way too soon!\" Not only that, the fruits were smaller and more bitter than usual. 😞
What's going on? Climate change might be the culprit. With stubborn droughts gripping the region for the third year in a row and wild weather swings from spring freezes to scorching heat, pawpaws are struggling to cope.
\"We're having to brace ourselves for extreme weather events,\" Valerie explained. \"Last year, late spring freezes hurt the blossoms. This year, it's the drought.\" 🌡️🌧️
For a fruit that's been around for centuries and even celebrated at annual festivals, this is a big deal. 🍃 As climate change continues to shake things up, who knows what other surprises nature has in store?
So next time you bite into a delicious fruit, spare a thought for the humble pawpaw and the farmers working hard to keep them growing. Let's take care of our planet so it takes care of these tasty treasures! 🌎💚
Reference(s):
Pawpaw, North America's native fruit, badly affected by climate change
cgtn.com
