Blackberry

Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

Grow

Blackberries are fruits which grow on woody stems called 

canes. Canes are biennial, lasting up to two years. The 

underground root and crown of the blackberry plant are 

perennial. Each spring, the plants produce canes from 

buds on the crown and lateral underground stems.1-3

Choose

Select blackberries that are fully ripe, but not overly so. 

Blackberries should be dry, clean, plump, bright and well 

colored. Avoid leaky, soft or dull blackberries or those 

with tops still attached. In the United States, blackberries 

are harvested from June through September. Popular U.S. 

varieties are Cherokee, Chester, Kotata, Marion, Ollalie, 

Texas Brazo and Waldo.8,9

Use

The majority of blackberries grown in the United States 

are processed as individually quick frozen blackberries. 

Frozen berries can be kept 6 months to 1 year. A smaller 

percentage of the crop is sold fresh for markets in the U.S. 

and abroad.4 

Blackberries are a very delicate fruit

Handle blackberries with care to prevent damage. Do not 

wash blackberries until ready to use. When ready to use, 

wash gently and pat dry with a single use paper towel. 

Blackberries freeze well. Lay them out in a single layer on 

a flat pan or baking sheet and place them in the freezer. 

Once frozen, put them in a freezer safe container or a 

plastic resealable bag. Blackberries are great on their own 

or mixed in oatmeal, cereal, yogurt or a salad. They are 

also tasty made into a puree or sauce. There are so many 

ways to serve and enjoy blackberries!8,9

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 08/15

http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA

State Board of Education

Department of Public Instruction

Fun Fact: The tayberry, loganberry and boysenberry are 

hybrids of blackberries and raspberries.7 Fun Fact: Blackberry plants can live for up to 20 years.2

Fun Fact: Blackberries are sometimes called caneberries. 

Historically, growers have called blackberries brambles.1

Fruit 

Blackberries are a native North American fruit and can be 

found growing wild in different parts of the United States. 

Blackberries tend to grow better in hotter conditions and 

can tolerate fluctuating winter conditions—ideal for 

growers in the coastal plains and piedmont region of 

North Carolina. Blackberries prefer deep, well drained 

loamy soil. They need full sun and adequate soil moisture. 

Space blackberry plants 2-3 feet apart and rows 10-12 

feet apart. It can take two years for canes to bear fruit.1-6

A Rose by Any Other Name

Blackberries belong to the genus Rubus, which is part of 

the Rose family. Other fruits in this family include apples, 

apricots, peaches, pears, and strawberries. These fruits 

have one thing in common. Flowers for these fruit plants 

have 5-7 white or pink petals around a central cluster of 

yellow stamens.1-3

Fun Fact: Blackberry plants can be erect, semi-erect or 

trailing. Trailing types require a trellis.1-3,5

Store

Blackberries are highly perishable and should be picked or 

purchased one or two days prior to use. Once harvested 

or purchased, they should be stored in the refrigerator. 

Before storing, remove any blackberries that are molded 

so they will not spoil other berries in the container.8
Blackberry

Soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol. Insoluble fiber 

aids digestion. Vitamin C helps form collagen to hold 

muscles, bones and tissues together, protects us from 

infections and bruising, aids in healing, keeps our gums 

healthy, helps our body absorb iron and folate from 

plants, and acts as an antioxidant to prevent cell damage. 

Raspberries offer a variety of phytochemicals—flavonoids, 

ellagic acid, lutein, etc. Phytochemicals act as antioxidants 

preventing or repairing cell damage. Anthocyanidins, a 

flavonoid sub-group, contribute to the blue, red and 

purple pigments of fruits. Anthocyanidins may also help 

with maintaining brain and healthy immune function. 

Anthocyanidins and ellagic acid help boost antioxidant 

defenses in cells and neutralize free radicals that may 

damage cells.4,12 

Teach

Blackberry plants consist of several different parts: roots, 

canes, stems, thorns, leaves and fruit. Roots crown 

beneath the soil surface and provide a support system for 

the plant. Shoots or canes grow from buds on the crown 

and lateral stems. Canes can be thornless or thorny. 

Veiny, serrated leaves grow on the stems. Drupelets, the 

fruit, grow around a fleshy core called a receptacle and 

are held together by tiny hairs. The receptacle (torus) 

detaches with the fruit, when picked, as part of what we 

eat. The drupelets have the same structure as other 

drupes such as cherries or peaches but on a much smaller 

scale.1-3

Fun Fact: Blackberries are one of the top ten fruits with 

the highest antioxidant rating!4

Enjoy more fruits and vegetables

Fruit 

Find

For more blackberry facts and resources, visit:

1. www.raspberryblackberry.com

2. http://umaine.edu/publications/2066e

3. http://rubus.ces.ncsu.edu

4. www.oregon-berries.com

5. http://extensionuga.edu/agriculture/ag-fruits-vegetables/

blackberries

6. http://cipm.ncsu.edu/NCCBRGA

7. http://harvestofthemonth.cdph.ca.gov

8. www.fns.usda.gov

9. www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/blackberries

10. www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/

activities/3205_vinland.html

11. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov

12. www.eatright.org

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 08/15

http://childnutrition.ncpublicschools.gov

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA

State Board of Education

Department of Public Instruction

Fun Fact: Blackberries are not really a berry. They are an 

aggregate fruit. A blackberry is made up of many 

connecting, individual sections of fruit, each with its own 

seed that surrounds a central core. The aggregate 

structure increases the fiber content of the blackberry.1,4

Eat

Sweet and Nutritious

Blackberries are an excellent source of fiber (38% of the 

Daily Value) and vitamin C (50% of the Daily Value). A cup 

of fresh blackberries has about 62 calories, 7 grams of 

fiber and 30 mg of vitamin C. They are free of cholesterol 

and low in fat and sodium.4,8-9,11

Class Activity

Materials Needed:

 Water (500 ml)

 Pot or pan

 Hotplate or stove

 2 potholders or oven mitts

 Blackberries (1 cup)

 Cheesecloth

 Jar with lid (Use lid to prevent spilling the dye.)

 Paint brush, White construction paper

Steps:

1. Discuss with students how dyes can be made naturally 

from plants. Have students predict the color of the 

dye. Afterward, ask students to research the pigment.

2. Boil about 500 ml of water. Add 1 cup of blackberries. 

Simmer for 30 minutes to make the dye.

3. Hold cheesecloth over the jar with the cloth dipping 

into the jar. Pour the dye into the jar. The cheesecloth 

will catch the berry particles. Discard berries. Seal jar. 

4. Use the paint brush to spread the dye on the paper. 

Record the results.10