Now Forage

Blackberry: Fully black (not red or dark red) and comes off the stem with no resistance — zero pull. Dull rather than shiny; a shiny black berry is still slightly underripe and tart. Eat the same day for best flavour.

Mulberry: Ripe when fully coloured (white, red, or black by species) and falls at a touch. Spread a sheet and shake the branches. Extremely perishable — process or eat immediately.

Serviceberry: Small, round, turning from red to deep purple-black. Sweet and blueberry-like when fully dark. Birds eat them as soon as they ripen — check daily. Best fresh or in pies and jam.

Sour cherry: Bright to deep red, slightly translucent. Firmer than sweet cherries when ripe. Strong tart flavour — avoid if still pale or streaked green. Harvest before birds; fruits hang briefly after colouring.

Strawberry: Uniformly red with no white or green at the tip or shoulder. Strong strawberry fragrance even from a distance. Cap leaves (calyx) are fresh and green. Completely red flesh inside when cut. Wild strawberries are smaller but more intensely flavoured.