In the 1950s the Sub Tropical Experiment Station, currently renamed the 'Agricultural Research and Education Center' distributed plants of the abiu (Pouteria caimito). These seedlings were grown and fruited by Seymour Younghans, the writer and the Experiment Station. Unfortunately the fruit was small with most of the pulp area occupied by seeds; however, the flavor was good.

In 1969 the writer visited Iquitos, Peru where he encountered superior strains of excellent quality 4 inch diameter fruit with only three seeds. Subsequent plant collecting trips to this area by other R.F.C. members has uncovered even larger fruit of similar quality with diameters of 5 inches. These Amazon abiu varieties are presently being grown by a number of R.F.C. members, the writers tree being the first to fruit.

The abiu can be propagated from seed. graft or marcot. The young plant should be protected in windy locations and unsuitable soils, such as marl or high pH beach-type sands avoided. Flowering may take place over a span of several years or more prior to when the first fruit set occurs, which ripens from July thru October in Florida. Its flavor somewhat resembles the star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito).