Pawpaw Could Provide New Tourism Opportunity For Rochelle

ROCHELLE – Visit Northwest Illinois Executive Director Matthew Lennox told the Rochelle City Council Monday that pawpaw trees could provide a new tourism and economic development opportunity for the city. Lennox said the Paw Paw Festival in the small Lee County community, grew from about 600 visitors in 2024 to more than 6,000 last year, with more than 10,000 expected this year. He said fresh pawpaws, plants and pawpaw products often sell out early, but the fruit has a short shelf life and is difficult to ship. Lennox suggested planting pawpaw trees on suitable city owned property in Rochelle as a long term investment. He said the city could eventually support pawpaw production, processing and tourism, including products such as syrup, frozen pulp, baked goods and beverages. Lennox said pawpaw could add an agricultural tourism component to Rochelle’s existing railroad, recreation and industrial attractions.