[jonah]

The fruit being discussed is endemic to a portion of the southeast United States.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/v3/367

You may be thinking of a relative like the soursop which does have a broader range.

[zztop44]

The person you’re replying to probably assumed (as I did) that the article was about papaya, which is called pawpaw in some parts of the world. They will probably be relieved (as am I) to find out it’s about an unrelated fruit.

[ActionHank]

You're on the money there, phew.