[NAFEX] Cloudberry availability and propagation

George Brinson george.brinson at nf.sympatico.ca
Fri Mar 6 14:30:14 EST 2009


HI............am reading the responses to Rubus chamaemorus and peoples like or dislike for the taste. I am living in the province of Newfoundland in eastern Canada and am in the "centre" of "bakeapple growing area" of Newfoundland. From info I can gather, it appears that ~1% of the population doesn't care for the taste, but the remaining 99% can not get enough of the berry. Its chief method of preparation is in jams and spreads and now, in fruit wines and liqueurs, as well.

The current price paid to harvesters here in the province is $50.00 per gallon of ripe berries, and the demand cannot be met! Someone "loves" the taste of this fruit!!!

George Brinson 
Carmanville
Newfoundland
Canada
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Dossett 
  To: North American Fruit Explorers 
  Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 12:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Cloudberry availability and propagation


        Jim,

        There are records of Rubus chamaemorus at the University of Minnesota Herbarium.  The records appear to mostly be old (though one as recent as '05) from Lake and St. Louis counties, but I'm sure that there is still cloudberry in the same areas if not the exact same locations.  Go to http://ssrs.cfans.umn.edu:8080/PlantsWebSearch/ and do a search and the info should come up.

        Michael

        Michael Dossett Corvallis, Oregon www.Mdossettphoto.com phainopepla at yahoo.com

        --- On Fri, 3/6/09, Jim Fruth <jfruth at tds.net> wrote:


          From: Jim Fruth <jfruth at tds.net>
          Subject: [NAFEX] Cloudberry availability and propagation
          To: "NAFEX" <nafex at lists.ibiblio.org>
          Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 7:32 AM


          Sarah Ewing asked, "I'm wondering if anyone on here knows anything about 
          Cloudberries.  I'm also looking for a commercial source for Cloudberry 
          plants or seeds.?
                  AND
          Ernest Plutko wrote, "About five years ago I saw cloudberry plants for sale 
          in a herb garden nursery a little north of Minneapolis.  I don't remember 
          name of nursery or if it still in business.  I didn't buy any because I 
          understand they are very difficult or impossible to grow south of their 
          natural range."


              I did some extensive research into Cloudberries a few years ago and here 
          is what I learned:  Ernest, that nursery in Minneapolis has no trouble 
          growing their cloudberry plant but they told me that they only have male 
          plants that they propagate from cuttings.  I scoured Alaskan nurseries for 
          plants or seeds but all I received was disappointment.
              An officer from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said that 
          a few plants have established themselves in the "Arrowhead" of Minnesota but 
          their location is kept secret.
              Whether Cloudberry will thrive this far South seems to depend upon where 
          they came from, perhaps like Rubus arcticus, the Groundcover Raspberry that 
          Hartmann Plant Company sells.  I bought some but they go into hibernation 
          when they bloom which coincides with the first warm Summer days here in 
          Minnesota.  We have an almost identical species, R. triflorus that I sent to 
          Hartmann suggesting he see it instead.  So, may I infer that if Cloudberries 
          are to thrive here is the lower 48, it depends upon where you got the plants 
          or seed from?
              With that in mind, I encountered a NAFEXer from the Maritimes and he 
          sent me some seed (Canadians call it "Bakeapple") which I planted.  That was 
          back in 2006 and they have yet to sprout.  Cloudberry seeds require more 
          than a one season stratification.  I planted them in acid ground where my 
          Lingonberries grow.  Maybe some will sprout this coming Spring.

          Jim Fruth
          Brambleberry Farm
          Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
          For jams, jellies, syrups and more:
          www.jellygal.com
          1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free)
          1-218-831-7018 (My Cell) 

       




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