Do currants grow in the US?

Today, they are grown by U.S. farmers in the Northeast and in the Pacific Northwest and used in foods like jellies, jams, teas and oils. They are extremely high in vitamin C.

Why is it illegal to grow currants in the United States?

In 1911 it was made illegal to grow currants in the United States. They were banned by the US Department of Agriculture because they carried the white pine blister rust disease. This fungus threatened to wipe out the pines in the US, so all Ribes were banned to protect the logging industry at the time.

Are currants still illegal in the US?

The federal ban was lifted in 1966, though many states maintained their own bans. Research showed that blackcurrants could be safely grown some distance from white pines and this, together with the development of rust-immune varieties and new fungicides, led to most states lifting their bans by 2003.

Can you get red currants in the US?

Red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes and part of the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). It is native to Western Europe and has long been cultivated in the United States. In the early 1900s, currants were banned in the northern United States to prevent the spread of white pine blister rust.

Do currants grow wild in the US?

Wild Currants like cooler weather as do Gooseberries. They are more above the Mason-Dixon line than below it. However, the USDA says currants are native or introduced to all of North America except Alabama. I used to see them around abandoned houses in the rural areas of Maine.

All About Growing Currants: Harvest

Is it illegal to grow currants?

In 1911, a federal ban made it illegal to grow all Ribes, including currants and gooseberries, because these plants served as an intermediary host of white pine blister rust.

Are black currants banned in the US?

The US Department of Agriculture had no choice but to have black currants banned because the plants became a vector for a disease that threatened to annihilate all pines in America. It might seem extreme, but this measure was necessary to save the logging industry at that time.

Are currants illegal in Michigan?

A permit is required for planting black currants anywhere in the state of Michigan. Red currants, white currants and gooseberries require a permit only if the planting site is in the white pine blister rust control zone. Alpine currant is exempt from permit requirements.

Are currants illegal in North Carolina?

Photo from GLady at Pixabay. 9/16/2020 – The short answer is “no.” You cannot legally grow currants or gooseberries in North Carolina. The reason is that these plants serve as alternate hosts for White Pine Blister Rust.

Are black currants illegal in California?

Currants are banned in counties where these pines are grown for lumber. Botrytis and Anthracnose can cause rot of leaves and loss of young growth, usually stems lying on the ground or splashed during irrigation. Gooseberry mildew infects currants, especially in humid areas, but is not common in California.

Why is it illegal to grow red currants?

The federal government banned cultivation of the currants – along with black currants and gooseberries – when a fungal disease known as white pine blister rust began to attack the plants.

What's the difference between Raisin and currants?

Raisins, sultanas and currants are all types of dried grapes. Raisins and sultanas are soft, sweet and juicy, while currants have an intense, sweet and tangy taste. Raisins are typically the largest of the three.

Can you grow currants in Texas?

Currants grow in USDA hardiness zones 3-5, so they cannot be grown commercially or locally in Texas without special equipment, which makes cultivation very expensive. Currants are still mostly banned where pine trees are grown for lumber, which is basically where currants grow best.

Why doesn't America have red currants?

The federal government had banned the growing of black and red currants in 1911 when the burgeoning logging industry put pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the currants because they were thought to be an intermediate host of white pine blister rust.

Are currants and gooseberries the same?

Currants and gooseberries can be easily distinguished by the presence or absence of thorns; gooseberries usually have thorns, while currants do not. Ribes plants are long-lived perennial shrubs that are cold-hardy, some to USDA Zone 2.

Can you grow currants in Pennsylvania?

In 1933, Pennsylvania passed a law that limited growing gooseberries and currants in certain areas; however, the law is not enforced. Therefore, all Ribes can be grown in the state. If you have white pine nearby, though, you may want to consider growing less-susceptible types of Ribes.

Why was gooseberry banned?

Unfortunately, also in the early 1900s, the growing of gooseberry and related currants became federally banned because of a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, a deadly disease for all species of white pines (which includes the ancient bristlecone pines).

Can you grow currants in Tennessee?

Tennessee Food Forest Shrubs. Gooseberries, currants, thornless blackberries, raspberries, blueberries… man alive, there are some great choices. Some edible bamboo varieties grow in Tennessee, too.

Are red currants native to North America?

Ribes triste, known as the northern redcurrant, swamp redcurrant, or wild redcurrant, is an Asian and North American shrub in the gooseberry family. It is widespread across Canada and the northern United States, as well as in eastern Asia (Russia, China, Korea, Japan).

Why is gooseberry illegal in some states?

Why were gooseberries illegal? Gooseberries were once banned in the U.S. because they contributed to a tree-killing disease called "white pine blister rust" that was decimating these trees. It had a huge impact on white pine lumber-reliant economies like Maine.

Can you grow currants in Washington state?

Of red, black, and white currants, only red currants (R. rubrum) are commercially produced in Washington State. Black currant trials have proven the species to be largely unacceptable; the plants produce less salable product than red currant plants and are more susceptible to pests (11).

Do currants grow wild in Michigan?

Wild Black Currant

Black currant berries grow in clusters on a small bush. The wild black currant bush stands between three and four feet tall. The bush will grow dark green leaves scattered across the bush.

What states are black currants illegal?

Blackcurrants are currently illegal to grow in New York, but it may soon be legal to grow cultivars that are immune to white pine blister rust. In the United States, blackcurrants are not as common as they once were, but they have begun to thrive again in areas such as Connecticut, Oregon, and New York.

What British berry is banned in the US?

Be it enjoying some blackcurrant squash, a delicious crumble, or even a brand new Jaffa Cake flavour, the tart and tasty berry is a common staple among British households. But did you know that the blackcurrant was banned from the United States of America for most of the 20th century?

Can you eat raw black currants?

While black currants have a strong taste, they're delicious to eat raw when they're ripe. You can also use them in a variety of recipes. Some ways to prepare black currants include: Cooking with sugar and other fruits to make a jam.