In 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.

Where are black currants banned?

Nationally, a prohibition on the import of blackcurrant plants from Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and several EU countries remains. A special permit is required to import it from Chile.

Is blackcurrant banned in USA?

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.

Why is blackcurrant banned in USA?

The nutrient-rich berries were banned in 1911 because they were thought to produce a fungus that could damage pine trees. As new disease-resistant berries were produced and new ways to prevent the fungus from damaging timber were developed, some states started to lift the ban in 2003.

Can you grow blackcurrant in the US?

Blackcurrant production is not tracked by the US Department of Agriculture so it is hard to know how many are grown and where, though Pritts suggests there is a "thriving group" of blackcurrant farms in the Hudson Valley of New York and Connecticut, as well as Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Canada.

Why is black currant illegal in the US?

Is black currant legal 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Is Ribena illegal in the US?

As of June 2020, bans remain in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia – it is also banned in parts of Michigan, and Ohio bans only non-immune varieties.

Can you grow currants in North Carolina?

Currants and gooseberries cannot be grown legally in North Carolina. Both serve as alternate hosts for diseases that affect important economic crops in our state. For further clarification, contact the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Plant Protection Division.

Are currants illegal in the USA?

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.

What berry is illegal in the US?

Until April 2003, black currants had been referred to in the United States as the “forbidden fruit,”since farming bans in several states prevented it from being harvested. As a result, this once-popular berry, not readily available in the U.S. for the past 100 years, fell out of favor in American diets.

When were currants banned in America?

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 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.

Can I grow currants in South Carolina?

Currant and Gooseberry Plants.

(1) All wild and cultivated currant and gooseberry plants growing in any Blister Rust-Control Area are hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance, and the South Carolina State Crop Pest Commission or its agents are authorized to destroy such plants wherever found.

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.

What berries are illegal growing?

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.

Is blackcurrant banned in Michigan?

4. The cultivated black currant is hereby declared a public nuisance. Planting, possessing, growing, propagating, selling or offering for sale plants, roots, or cuttings of cultivated black currants within the state is hereby prohibited.

Can you grow black currant in Florida?

Most varieties seem able to take zone 8b, but at least some need a lot of chilling hours (1000 or more at worst). I suspect that the Brit version of zone 8 or 9, or the Oregon, would be fine for most varieties, but the Florida version might get too hot in summer and not provide enough chilling hours in winter.

Can you grow currants in Ohio?

Plant only disease-free resistant varieties of Ribes approved by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Resistant varieties of Black currant include Consort, Crusader, Coronet, Lowes Auslese, Polar, Titania, and Willoughby. Red currants and gooseberries are not affected by Ohio law and are legal to plant.

Are black currants healthy?

Black currants are high in antioxidants, including vitamin C. Along with the anthocyanins in black currants, these antioxidants can help to give your immune system a boost, allowing your body to fight infection and viruses more effectively. Black currants are rich in an omega-6 fatty acid called gamma-linoleic acid.

Are currants the same as blackcurrants?

In the U.S. we still use the separated name “Black Currant” as well as Red Currant or White Currant and often, just Currant which causes some confusion with the misnamed raisins.

What do black currants taste like?

Fresh black currants have an acidic flavor with an earthy undertone. They have a flavor that is comparable to that of a blackberry, although they are not as sweet. They have a somewhat higher acidity level. It can be eaten fresh, dried, or made into jams and syrups.

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.