Caimitos can sometimes be found at Asian and Hispanic markets in the U.S., though you're most likely to find them at fruit stands or farmers' markets in areas where they are grown. Look for fruit that is full with slightly wrinkled skin. Star apples are usually deep purple, though white and green varieties also exist.

Avoid fruits with broken skin or obvious bruising. Fruits are sometimes sold slightly unripe, especially when shipped long distances — unripe fruit can be ripened on the counter until soft and slightly wrinkled.

Ripe fruits can be stored whole in the refrigerator for several days. Unripe fruits should be stored on the counter — if refrigerated before fully ripe, they won't ripen completely.

Pro tip: Chill the fruit before eating to avoid residual latex in the flesh, as some fruits may have higher latex content than others.

Important: Only the inside flesh is edible. The skin is filled with white, sticky latex that irritates the mouth and throat and must be completely removed.

How to prepare: Slice the fruit in half and scoop out the seeds in the center. After removing seeds, simply scoop out the inside flesh with a spoon. Chilling the fruit beforehand helps minimize latex residue.

Star apples are sometimes used to top desserts and can be mixed into fruit salads. One famous Jamaican fruit salad is called matrimony — named for the way it marries the sweet flavors of star apple and citrus.

While the fruit can be made into jam, home cooks sometimes encounter difficulties with the latex content in the fruit, which interferes with natural pectin.

The star apple is a close relative of mamey sapote, egg fruit, and sapodilla — all members of the same fruit family.

The latex in the skin has been used as a substitute in gutta-percha, a natural rubber used in dental equipment for root canals and other procedures.

Seasonality: Peak season for caimitos runs from late winter through spring in most areas.

Geography: The fruit originated in the Caribbean and likely spread across Central and South America before European arrival. Today, it is common throughout South and Central America and in tropical Asia (particularly Singapore and Philippines). In the U.S., it has been grown in South Florida since the early 1900s and is also grown as a backyard tree in Hawai'i.

Pesticides: Star apples are only grown on a limited scale in the US. Although many growers fertilize their trees, they don't suffer from many pest problems, so pesticide use is uncommon. Ask local vendors about growing practices.

Imports: Because they are relatively delicate, star apples are not commonly imported from other countries, though some Hispanic and Asian markets may occasionally carry them. Wash the skin before slicing to reduce any chemical residue.