🥭 Tropical Treat - A Large-Fruiting Selection with Intense Mango-Pineapple Flavor

Variety Description

Summary

Tropical Treat is a groundbreaking modern selection discovery by Woody Walker in Kentucky in 2010. It is defined by its "supercharged" tropical flavor—often described as a concentrated mango-pineapple nectar in custodial form. While many pawpaws have subtle tropical notes, Tropical Treat is famous for its powerful aromatic intensity. The fruits are uniformly mid-sized to large with a distinctively thick skin that acts as natural armor, making it one of the best contemporary choices for commercial shipping or long-distance transport. Because it is a very late ripener, it is ideally suited for southern climates or regions with extended Indian summers, where it can fully develop its complex sugars (reaching ≈24 °Brix).

Foundations and Pedigree

Discovered as a standout wild seedling in Beattyville, Kentucky, Tropical Treat was recognized for its elite culinary traits and vigor before being partnered with Cliff England’s Orchard for global distribution. It has since become a benchmark for "high-intensity" flavor trials.

Fruit Specifications: The Mango-Citrus Masterpiece

Physical Attributes: Fruits are elongated and robust, typically weighing 180g to 300g. Shelf Presence: The thick skin prevents the common bruising and skin-breakdown seen in thin-skinned heritage varieties. Palette: The flavor is exceptionally vibrant, leaning heavily into tropical citrus and mango notes without any bitter secondary finish. Texture: Silky, dense yellow pulp that holds its shape well when sliced.

Orchard Integrity

Efficiency: Tropical Treat is a high-performance tree. Once established, it is a consistent producer that often exceeds 100 fruits per tree, manageable via early-season thinning. Growth Habit: Maintains a compact, symmetrical canopy, making it an excellent choice for both commercial blocks and high-density home orchards.

Management and Logistics

Maturity Timing: This is a "heat-hungry" variety. It usually peaks in late August or September in Kentucky; growers in northern zones should only plant it if they can guarantee a long, hot ripening season. Commercial Potential: Its combination of intense flavor and thick skin identifies it as a premier cultivar for specialty fruit markets and gourmet processing.

Environmental Adaptation

Fully resilient in USDA Zones 5–8. While extremely hardy, its late-ripening nature means northern growers (Zone 5) should use microclimate placement (e.g., near south-facing walls) to ensure fruit maturity before the first hard freeze.

Conclusion

Tropical Treat is the ultimate choice for the "tropical flavor hunter." It provides an intensity of taste that few other varieties can match, wrapped in a physically durable fruit that stands up to modern logistics. Its high yields and beautiful tree form make it a centerpiece variety for any collection. For the grower in a warm-temperate zone looking to produce a high-value, gourmet-grade harvest, Tropical Treat is an essential and rewarding investment.