Lynn’s Favorite is a respected cultivar originating from Corwin Davis’s historical breeding efforts. It is celebrated for its yellow-fleshed fruit, heavy cropping patterns, and a remarkably clean appearance. While it matures slightly later than some early-bird varieties, its resilience against common fungal issues makes it a primary choice for growers in high-humidity regions. Its official recognition as "Best Fruit" at the 2014 Ohio Pawpaw Festival underscores its gourmet flavor credentials.
Skin and Display: One of the variety's defining traits is its thin, smooth skin that remains clean of blemishes even in wet years. This "clean finish" makes it highly marketable for fresh sale. Pulp: The internal flesh is deep yellow and possesses a sophisticated tropical/honey palette that frequently earns top scores in blind tastings.
Weight Dynamics: Standardized trials, such as those by Francino (Ohio State, 2019), show that while the tree produces a massive volume of fruit, individual specimen weight tends to concentrate in the 93–203 g range. Growers looking for larger individual fruits may consider thinning to counteract this natural heavy-setting tendency. Production Efficiency: In comparative field studies, Lynn’s Favorite consistently yielded one of the highest total fruit counts per specimen, making it one of the most efficient "pulp-per-acre" cultivars available.
Harvest Window: In its native northern range (Michigan), ripening occurs typically in the second week of October. This mid-late window requires a site with a reliable late-autumn growing season to reach full sugar potential. Disease Profile: It is noted specifically for being "nonsensitive" to Phyllosticta, a major advantage in the eastern US and similar climates where leaf and fruit spotting can degrade fruit quality.
Scientific Context: Included in the Kentucky State University (KSU) master list of elite cultivars, it has been the subject of multiple academic performance studies. The 2019 Francino data highlights it as a productivity outlier (by count), though it requires management to ensure individual fruit size remains in the "large" category.
Lynn’s Favorite is a "grower's favorite" for its combination of high-volume yields, award-winning flavor, and natural disease resistance. Its beautiful, clean-skinned yellow fruit and honeyed profile make it a standout choice for both hobbyists and serious orchardists in USDA Zones 5–8, particularly in regions prone to humid summers.
| Indicator | Standardized Value |
|---|---|
| Source Orchard | Corwin Davis |
| Flesh Color | Rich Yellow |
| Epidermis/Skin | Thin, Smooth, Clean |
| Productivity Rank | Very High (Outlier for Fruit Count) |
| Ripening Period | Mid-Late (Oct 2nd week in MI) |
| Major Resistance | Moderate to High (Phyllosticta) |
| Major Awards | Best Fruit — Ohio Pawpaw Festival 2014 |