Best Pawpaw Competition
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
12:15 p.m.
Registration is from 10:30 am - 12:15 pm on Saturday in the pop-up tent just outside of the Pawpaw Ten To enter, one must have three fruits from the same tree for samples; these must be at the Pawpaw Tent by 12:15 pm for weighing. Only one entry per person is permitted in this event. Click here to download an entry form.
To collect prize money, winners must provide scion wood or bud wood from the winning trees for use in the variety trials organized by OPGA.
The Best Pawpaw Competition is the annual event that recognizes the many nuances of pawpaw flavors and characteristics abounding in select and "wild" pawpaw varieties. How does one talk about and describe this delicate flavor? What makes this a good pawpaw? What makes this a bad pawpaw?This year's event will include plaques and cash prizes - $100 for first prize, $75 for 2nd prize and $50 for 3rd prize, plus bragging rights. Fifty dollars also will be awarded to the largest pawpaw.
Each fruit will receive a score from 1 to 5 in each of the categories below. The fruit with the most points wins!
- Weight: What is the perfect eating size for a pawpaw? Is bigger always better? For this spectacular pawpaw gathering, each fruit will actually be weighed to score this category.
- Appearance: Does this fruit make you laugh? Is it a fabulous looking fruit? You tell us. This is a totally subjective call by you and the judges.
- Skin Surface: How does the fruit look? Is it smooth and unblemished? Though you don't eat the skin of the pawpaw and a lot of pawpaws have lines, bumps and blemishes, we judge for perfection. If a fruit is yellow when ripe, that is another potentially important trait that should add points to the score.
- Aroma: How does this fruit smell? Does this fruit make your taste buds and brain cells hum?
- Skin Thickness: Thicker pawpaw skins would help reduce the fragility and perishable nature of the fruit. So we give more points to the tougher-skinned fruits.
- Front Flavor: How does the fruit taste as it first hits your mouth? Does a smile cross your face or do you frown with disapproval? The more the judges like it, the more points are awarded. This is a totally subjective experience. You can stand around and sample the extra fruits to see what you think too.
- Texture: The pawpaw fruit can be firm, custard-like or mushy. We are looking for the smooth custard-like texture that only the perfectly ripe pawpaw can have. If it's too hard or under ripe, the full flavor can't be there either. If it's brown and mealy, the fruit may start to taste off and have a grainy texture.
- Aftertaste: What flavor elements linger on your palate? Does this work for you and the judges, or not? Is it smooth, or does it have a bitter, biting aftertaste? It is pretty important, especially for this competition. The better the aftertaste, the more points awarded.
- Seeds: Though the seeds are pretty and can be used as beads, planted for new trees or used for the medicinal and pesticide properties, we judge the fewer seeds the better.