To help growers with local food production we have established a pawpaw orchard at RCARS.  The initial planting of 60 trees was done in the summer of 2017 with grafting the following May.  These trees have been grown and maintained since then.  A few of the grafts did not take and a few of the trees also died.  Therefor these trees were regrafted or replanted in June of 2019.  Currently the trees are growing well and will be monitored and maintained.  The overall goal is to establish an orchard of improved varieties of pawpaws that will be used for demonstration and education.  Pawpaw is a native fruit in the Appalachian region and sells for $1-$2 per fruit in local markets.  There is more local demand than there is supply.  These fruit do not ship well and there is little processing done with the fruit either so production must be close to the market.  These native fruits have few pest problems nor are there any registered pesticides for them either.  Because these are grafted varieties we are anticipating our first harvest in 2021.  As the trees grow we will be able to provide more education and scion wood to the Agents and clientele.