‘Pawpaw fever’: Meet the people in WMass growing a fruit you’ve never heard of

HOLYOKE — In the backyard of a city home is an unexpected sight: 14 trees with what look like clusters of green mango-shaped fruits hanging from the branches.

They’re pawpaws, a fruit with a custard-like texture and a flavor that’s somewhere between a banana and a mango, some say with hints of pineapple. While many people have never heard of them, they are the largest edible tree fruit native to the U.S.