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O R EG O N 'S LGBTQ N EW SM AG AZIN E
W hen I first moved here 18 years ago, some
one told me in order to call myself an Orego
nian I had to live more years in Oregon than I
had in any another state. (Insert eye-roll.) My
hope is that hy sharing my vast knowledge of
Oregon’s berries—one of the top things I love
about the Beaver State— with you here, I’ll be
able to finally call myself an Oregonian.
Summer time means berry time to me, and
the beauty of our berries aptly meets, or sur
passes, their flavor. The decadence of picking
buckets of berries among the warm, heady vines
is among my cherished seasonal activities. But
which kinds are best? And what are the differ
ences? W hat if you want to grow your own? Do
not despair, berry lovers. This column is for you.
First off, what’s the difference between
blackberries and raspberries? Other than the
obvious color difference, raspberries have a hole
in the center of the fruit (it’s hollow), whereas
blackberries are solid throughout. Raspberries
have that ability to simply fall apart when
picked if they’re too ripe and can literally melt
in your mouth.To me, raspberries have a bright
taste, matching their bright red color. They’re
delicate and gorgeous, and the tang they deliver
to the middle of your tongue is sweet. They
might be my favorite, were I to have one.
For many people, marionberry, or the M ari
on blackberry, is a local favorite. It was devel
oped specifically for growing in the W il
lamette Valley by researchers at OSU and
carries a complex flavor that is both tart and
earthy. Marionberries are fantastic in pies and
B errytastic
baked goods, but if you’re like me, fresh ber
ries all by themselves are pretty fantastic.
One of my favorite berries to eat fresh is
the loganberry. A strange, accidental crossing
of a raspberry and a blackberry, the loganberry
was developed in California in the 1880s.
Their flavor is soft, very much derived from
that of their raspberry parentage. They seem to
dissolve in your mouth, making them a fleet
ing summer memory and almost magical.
The loganberry is a parent to my jam -m ak
ing berry o f choice, the tayberry. Many people
haven’t heard of the tayberry, but for W il
lamette Valley jam-makers like me, they’re a
favorite, a cross between a loganberry and
black raspberry. Originally developed in Scot
land, the fruit can be hard to pick, making it
impossible for machine harvest or commercial
purposes. The flavor is strong and tart, hut best
of all, the tayberry possesses floral qualities,
perfect for sauces and jams. Paired with a hit
oflavender, this is my favorite jam to make.
The Sylvan blackberry is juicy and if you’re
seeking a true taste of summer, I’d point you this
direction. Some say the sylvanberry makes even
better pies than marionberries, but perhaps you
JULY 15. 2011
26 _ ja
(raspberries and blackberries) can yield good
crops for up to 20 years. W hen siting berries,
drainage is one o f the most important factors
for success, making sure they don’t sit in boggy
or overly wet conditions during our months of
rain. Caneberries need to be trained onto a
trellis, and your structure should be installed
at the time o f planting. Planting should occur
as early as possible in the spring, and be pre
pared to wait a year for berry production.
However, patience is a virtue— raspberries,
freshly picked on a summer morning for
breakfast atop your cereal, are a pretty great
way to start the day. Once established, plants
just need a little fertilizer, some manure in fall
or winter, and 1-1.5 inches o f water per week
during our dry season. Depending on the kind
o f caneberries you grow, pruning will vary if
you’re working with primocanes (first year o f
growth) or floricanes (second year o f growth).
should make one o f each and have a taste off. I
like to say that if you look up blackberry in a
dictionary, the quintessential look for the Sylvan
blackberry would be pictured there.
All o f the berries described above are avail Feel like celebrating berries?
able at u-pick farms in the areas surrounding
Attend the Oregon Berry Festival, Friday,
Portland. During berry season I am aware and July 22 (noon-6 p.m.) and Saturday, July 23 (11
grateful for our urban growth boundary, al a.m.-6 p.m.) at the Ecotrust Building (721 NW
lowing for agriculture to be accessible and not Ninth Ave.) in Portland. Sample berry ice
hours away from the city population. To find creams and pies and check out the first Oregon
local farms for u-pick or produce purchase in Berry C hef Cook-Off. For more information,
the Washington, Clackamas and M ultnomah visit oregonberryfestival.com. J i
county area, visit tricountyfarm.org.
L e A nn L ochf . r is an O SU Extension Master
Grown your own!
Gardener and can befound gardening this summer
W ith a little planning and thoughtful loca
tion setting, growing your own caneberries
in her North Portland garden. Connect w ith her
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