Why don't grocery stores stock pawpaw fruit?

Name confusion and taxonomy

• Multiple commenters clarify that “pawpaw” here is Asimina triloba, not papaya (Carica papaya) or mountain papaya (Vasconcellea).
• The overlap of common names (pawpaw, papaya, mamão) across different species causes frequent confusion.
• Some relate pawpaw to the Annonaceae family (cherimoya, soursop) vs. papaya in Caricaceae.

Cultivation, varieties, and availability

• Modern commercial-quality cultivars are recent; serious breeding advances (4th–5th generation from early 20th‑century selections) only became widely plantable in the last decade or so.
• Several named cultivars are recommended (e.g., KSU Chappell, KSU Atwood, Wabash, Shenandoah, Susquehanna, Potomac, Sunflower), while others are described as inferior.
• Multiple US nurseries and small farms now sell grafted trees; some are in high demand and sell out quickly.
• Hobby orchards and backyard plantings are becoming more common; some people hope to do small‑scale commercial production.

Shelf life, logistics, and grocery economics

• Main answer to the title: they don’t ship or store well, bruise easily, have a short season, and ripeness is hard to judge.
• Fruits progress quickly from underripe to overripe, then bitter, with unattractive black spotting.
• Seeds are large and numerous, making them less convenient to eat than common commercial fruits.
• Some argue they could still appear in niche or local markets; others point out that limited, perishable stock makes large‑scale retail unattractive.

Taste, texture, and consumer appeal

• Descriptions range from “custard‑like,” “banana with vanilla,” “custard/ice‑cream texture” to “unripe pear and diesel fuel” for wild types or overripe fruit.
• Some love them; others find the banana-like flavor cloying or “weird” and prefer derivative products (e.g., beer).
• Flavor varies significantly by cultivar, ripeness, and individual taste.

Health and toxicity debate

• Discussion centers on Annonaceous acetogenins, mitochondrial complex I inhibitors also present in related fruits.
• One side emphasizes potential neurotoxicity (e.g., Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) and wants to avoid risk.
• Others note only one suspected case tied to pawpaws, low bioavailability, and possible health benefits in moderation (e.g., reduced cancer/diabetes risk).
• Some cultivars are reported as lower in acetogenins; moderation, seasonal consumption, and avoiding fat/alcohol cooking are suggested by some.

Foraging, ecology, and geography

• Pawpaws are reported as common in wild or semi‑wild patches in parts of Virginia, DC area, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts.
• They tolerate shade when young and can spread aggressively via suckers in suitable, often wet habitats.
• Overharvesting and tree damage from eager foragers are concerns in some popular areas.

Comparisons to other underrepresented fruits

• Commenters compare pawpaws’ absence from supermarkets to gooseberries, sapotes, cardoons, mangosteen, boysenberries, and guava.
• Common themes: perishability, low yield, preparation effort, limited culinary familiarity, and historical/regulatory quirks.

Economics, pricing, and culture

• At least one farmer sells out within an hour at a farmers’ market, prompting debate about “underpricing.”
• Some argue for higher prices to match demand; others note goals besides profit maximization (fair pricing, time value, customer loyalty).
• Observers see pawpaw enthusiasm as part of a broader “hipster/foodie” culture, eliciting both appreciation and skepticism.