All reports I've been hearing from friends and wild crafters at the Farmers' Market is that it's been a down year for picking huckleberries. Friends that go to the same spot every year who usually get 6 or 7 gallons came home with three gallons this year. Mo Bereiter, Spokane's mushroom and berry man says the picking is slow and difficult this year.
So you can imagine my shock when we went on a hike yesterday and happened into the most abundant patch of huckleberries I've ever seen. At first the berries were small and scattered but the further we moved off the beaten path the more abundant and big they got. I think the key might be that while the lower elevation berry blossoms got zapped by late frosts, the later blooming, higher elevation berries made it through unscathed.
Scientists have been trying to figure out how to domesticate huckleberries for years without any real success. (For some reason you can't just dig up the wild plants and put them in your garden and get berries.) Dr. Dan Barney from the University of Idaho has been the pioneer in these efforts. In 2005 he indicated that they were 3 to 5 years from commercial production of the wild plant, but the downturn in the economy may have temporarily saved the huckleberry from those that would tame it. On April 21 the University of Idaho announced they were shuttering the Sand Point facility where Dr. Barney has been carrying out his huckleberry research.
As much as I love eating huckleberries, I hate the thought of some day being able to buy a five pound bag of frozen berries at Costco for $10. Some things just aren't meant to be turned into a commodity.
Picture: My "huckleberry hands" with their distinctive purple stains after picking berries yesterday.
I had a similar experience -- Our first trip up was rather sparse -- Came back a couple weeks later, wandered off the trail a bit, and there was absolutely no shortage.
Did find the berries guarded by wasps though. got 25 stings or so spread over 4 out of the 6 in our party.
Yes, I like it that they are rare enough to remain a luxury, but are abundant enough that anyone can get them with a bit of sweat and perseverance.
Posted by: Josh R | August 31, 2010 at 10:45 AM
I agree, I never want to see huckleberries for sale in any store. That would be a sad day indeed.
Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Larson | August 31, 2010 at 07:30 PM
On the one hand, being able to have access to huckleberries anytime of the year would make me happy, but on the other hand, the thrill of stalking the perfect huckleberry patch and eating myself silly while picking them would be sorely missed. So I will continue to try and get out to pick when I can and stash as much in the freezer or make jam from them and not worry about them being commercially grown.
Posted by: Jean C | September 01, 2010 at 12:10 PM
The reason why there are no huckleberries where you used to go is because of commercial pickers who rake the bushes and break them off and then run them down a shoot.Plus no one patrols the areas so they rape our usual and accustomed areas not only from the Indians who use in ceremonies but for the old timers who have gathered for years. you will see many dead bushes because of this plus the trash they leave or perhaps a meth lab and nothing grows there anymore..More protection needs to happen before they are gone people. Creator, God who whoever you pray to needs to hear your voice and so does the forest service ..If we all share a voice it soon will be heard for the sake of all of the gatherers in WA state,,send your voice now..thank you a traditional gatherer for 50 years
Posted by: Lou Ann K. Squally | September 07, 2010 at 08:21 PM