What Time of Year Can You Pick Gooseberries

Identification

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the skin of a gooseberry as "papery." On first glance, it may resemble a Chinese green lantern. Once its skin is peeled away, the gooseberry's golden opaque fruit is revealed.

Harvest

• One of the earliest fruits of the year, gooseberries can begin to be harvested in late spring. Gooseberry growers can first pick fruit in late May or early June. Growers can complete a second harvest a few weeks later.

Consumption

• A gooseberry's tangy taste has been described as a cross between a pineapple and a strawberry. In the United States, gooseberries are largely produced commercially in Oregon and preserved for jelly. Today gooseberries are readily accessible through specialty retailers for use in salads, pies, puddings or even as garnish.

History

• With origins in Europe and western Asia, gooseberries were first cultivated in Britain around the time of the Great Plague of London and were primarily used for medicinal purposes. By the early 19th century, the gooseberry had expanded beyond its reputation as a remedy for common ailments and became a fixture in wines, pies and puddings. In 1905, an American-introduced mildew wiped out the gooseberry crop in Europe, ushering in the cultivation of mildew-resistant gooseberries in the United States.

Types

• Gooseberries are divided into two major camps, American and European. While the European variety of gooseberries is known for its large size and succulent flavor, gooseberry cultivars that are native to the United States tend to be healthier, more productive and less susceptible to disease than their European counterpart.