Native to Europe and Northern Asia, black currants are the alternate host to a rust disease affecting five-needle pines--in North America called White Pine Blister Rust. As the "lumber barons" of the late 19th and early 20th centuries sought to protect their timber interests from Maine to Minnesota, they lobbied their influence for the passage of laws prohibiting the cultivation of black currants. Inside of a generation, the fruit fell from the ethnic cuisines of newly minted American citizens who had immigrated from countries in Eastern and Northern Europe where black currants are prevalent. By the late 20th Century, the virgin White Pine forests were gone along with the lumber barons; European fruit-plant breeders were successfully developing new varieties of black currants immune to five-needle pine rust; States were rescinding their laws prohibiting the cultivation of currants; and many Americans were interested to rediscover the traditions and cultures of their ancestors.
Black currants are predominately utilized as a processing fruit for beverages, jams, jellies and other fruit products. In Europe it is a common inclusion in the "rainbow" of fruit flavor offerings. In today's economy, many fruits for process are increasingly picked by machine. At HIGHLAND VALLEY FARM we have a machine that will pick blueberries for process markets. The same machine can also harvest currants.
Our initial planting of black currants at HVF was a response to a request from White Winter Winery in Iron River, WI, which now uses the fruit in its Black Mead table wine, Black Harbor spirits, and Northwoods Naturals Black Spritz carbonated juice beverage. Black currants have since become a staple in our households--black currant jam has become Janet's favorite. We are expanding production and are now able to offer black currants to our retail and pick-your-own customers as well.
Black currants are predominately utilized as a processing fruit for beverages, jams, jellies and other fruit products. In Europe it is a common inclusion in the "rainbow" of fruit flavor offerings. In today's economy, many fruits for process are increasingly picked by machine. At HIGHLAND VALLEY FARM we have a machine that will pick blueberries for process markets. The same machine can also harvest currants.
Our initial planting of black currants at HVF was a response to a request from White Winter Winery in Iron River, WI, which now uses the fruit in its Black Mead table wine, Black Harbor spirits, and Northwoods Naturals Black Spritz carbonated juice beverage. Black currants have since become a staple in our households--black currant jam has become Janet's favorite. We are expanding production and are now able to offer black currants to our retail and pick-your-own customers as well.
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