Olallieberries are a tart, juicy berry related to blackberries, with a short growing season and mainly used for preserves and wines. They are grown along the West Coast of the US, particularly in California, and have a genetic makeup of two-thirds blackberry and one-third red raspberry. They grow on canes or vines that are less thorny than blackberries and prefer a cooler climate.
Olallieberries are large, shiny, juicy berries in the bramble family. They are most commonly compared to blackberries and are closely related to blackberries. However, they have a more intense, tart flavor and a very short growing season. Olallieberries are most widely grown along the West Coast of the United States, particularly in California, and are a coveted treat while fresh. They can also be found frozen and in the form of preserves such as jams and jellies. In some areas, olallieberries are also used to make distinctive berry wines.
In 1935, an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture crossed a cranberry and a cranberry, producing a grape variety called “Oregon 609.” When the berry was released to the general market, it was renamed Olallie, a Chinook word for “berry.” It was very successful growing in California and the state quickly dominated the olallieberry market. Alternative spellings for berries include olallaberry, olalliberry and ollalaberry.
The parents of the olallieberry both owe much of their genetic material to the blackberry. Loganberries were bred by crossing blackberries with red raspberries, while the young are a cross of blackberries and blackberries, smaller wild relatives. The genetic material of an olallieberry is about two-thirds blackberry and one-third red raspberry. While the berries superficially resemble blackberries, they grow on canes or vines that are much less thorny than blackberries. They also retain the sweet core of the flavor common to raspberries.
Most olallieberries end up in jams, preserves and wines, because the growing season is so short. When fresh, they are also used to make cakes, tarts and other desserts, as well as being eaten plain or included in fruit mixes. Southern California is well known for its olallieberries, and several large producers there make olallieberry preserves for shipment to other parts of the country. Frozen olallieberries are also available from these companies for use in a variety of cooking applications.
Like many other brambles, olallieberries rely on an extensive perennial underground root system. The berries grow on biennial stems or trailing vines, depending on the variety. When the vines stop bearing, they are cut close to the ground so the plant can generate new ones. As with other cloudberries, the decision to grow olallieberries shouldn’t be taken lightly, as once the roots are established, the plants will keep coming back. They also prefer a cooler climate, such as a temperate coastal zone, and benefit from having stakes or trellises installed to grow on.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
