From apples and oranges to pawpaws and persimmons

Half of the fruit that grows in yards and public spaces is never picked or eaten. Citrus trees are burdened with misshapen lemons, berries grow in tangled thickets on the roadside, and the crooked rows of abandoned orchards fill with fallen apples. At the same time, people yearn for an emotional connection that’s lacking in bland grocery store bananas and tasteless melons. The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a how-to guide with recipes, devoted to the secret, sweet bounty just outside our front doors and ripe for the taking, from familiar apples and oranges to lesser-known pawpaws and mayhaws. It will tell readers where and when to find them, and how to gather and cook them—everything from pontack, an elderberry-based condiment, to caramel apple clafoutis. Written by a seasoned chef, curious gardener, and foraging convert in a witty, welcoming style, it’s a must-have for seekers of both flavor and fun.