Will Boysenberries Ripen More After Picking?

History of Boysenberries

• Knott's Berry Farm, the California theme park, initially brought boysenberries to the notice of the consumer, by way of its boysenberry products. In the late 1920s, Knott's Berry Farms founder Walter Knott and a USDA employee, George Darrow, rescued some dying boysenberry plants from the failed farm of Rudolph Boysen. According to legend, Boysen developed the blackberry variety that was later named boysenberry by Knotts, in honor of Rudolph Boysen.

Ripening

• Some fruits continue to ripen after harvest -- such as apricots, cantaloupe, kiwi, avocados, peaches, pears and bananas -- while other fruits -- including oranges, apples, cherries, watermelon, tangerines and berries -- only ripen while still attached to the plant. Those fruits that continue to ripen are sensitive to ethylene gas. Ethylene gas, produced by fruits and vegetables, assists in the ripening process.

Harvesting

• Schedule the harvest of boysenberries for early in the morning. If the berries are wet, allow them to dry before picking. Taste a boysenberry before picking, to make sure that bunch is fully ripe. Handle the berries gently to avoid bruising. A fully ripe boysenberry pulls easily from the plant and should be picked when still firm.

Storage

• While boysenberries won't continue to ripen after harvesting, they can spoil quickly. Before storing, remove any spoiled or damaged berries and don't wash the fruit. Place a layer of dry paper towels on the bottom of the produce drawer in the refrigerator, and set unwashed boysenberries on the paper towels to store. The berries might keep for two or three days. Wash the berries when you are ready to eat them. If you can't use the berries within a few days, freeze them. Rinse the berries in cool water before putting them in a freezer bag.