Year of the Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Observation by Mike Brubaker:

Everyone is talking about the salmonberries! Not only because they are so large and plentiful, but also because they are so sweet. It is the best year for salmon berries I can remember.

Comments from LEO Editors:

The first signs of early salmonberry blooming began on Feb 12, 2016, in Sitka (Southeast AK) then to the west in Ouzinkie, located on Spruce Island by the end of Feb 29th. By early to mid-March both Juneau and Sitka noticed an increase in salmonberries flowering. As we move to Southcentral Alaska, Nanwalek began seeing the early bloomers, and as time progressed, on Apr 19th Sand Point observed salmonberry bushes beginning to bloom. On May 24th, King Cove, on the Alaska Peninsula and Toksook Bay the salmonberries were in full bloom and nearing harvest. On May 31st, heading back to Southeast Alaska in Wrangell, folks had started harvesting the berries, which was considerably earlier than normal. The previous year, the harvest began in late July. The question being asked by folks in Wrangell this year is whether there will be a second batch later in the summer. To read full story/post, follow the links in the "Related Observations" section on this page. (M. Tcheripanoff)

Resource:

• LEO Network is hosting in collaboration with USGS an annual survey about berry harvest in Alaska. If you are a berry harvester you are welcome to participate in our LEO Berry Assessment. See also the published report, How are your berries? Perspectives of Alaska’s environmental managers on trends in wild berry abundance. (J. Hupp et al.)

Video: View this short-video produced in the Metlakatla Indian Community of Alaska titled, Berry Fruit Leather:: METLAKATLA :: Store Outside Your Door. In this short 6:22 minute video, Metlakatla's Naomi Leask teaches us how to make fruit leather out of local berries! This Southeast Alaska community has a berry bounty each year. You can try this recipe with local berries from your area. Berries are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants (great for heart and brain health). The video was published on September 8, 2015 by The Store Outside Your Door project, an ANTHC Wellness and Prevention initiative to promote the knowledge and use of traditional foods and traditional ways.