North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>]

Kurt from Dunham, N.C. wrote, "is there truly such a thing as a "good 
highbush cranberry"?  This is our second year of getting a few berries off 
of the highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum), and they are one of the most 
bitter things I have ever tasted."

Kurt,
   Do not eat Highbush Cranberries until they have froze at least twice! 
The freeze/thaw cycles removes the bitterness and brings out the sugars but 
don't ask me how it does that.  I've tried doing the freeze/thaw in my 
freezer with unsatisfactory results; it is best to leave it on the plant and 
harvest after AT LEAST two freeze/thaw cycles.
   Oh yeah, when you cook them, stand up-wind.  Some berries give off a 
horrible stench when cooked.  Some don't and I haven't researched it to know 
the difference.  And, if you make jelly with Highbush Cranberries, you can 
expect it to smell like dirty socks when you open the jar.
   Despite the above, Highbush Cranberry is one of my favorite jellies and 
I recommend it to everyone who can get past the odor.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]