Juneberry - Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. Taxonomy, cultivars Origin, history of cultivation Folklore, medicinal properties, non-food uses Production statistics Botanical description General culture Contribution to diet, food uses Go back to Mark's Fruit Crops homepage Taxonomy, cultivars. Various species are adapted to every state in the US and province of Canada, but most fruit production occurs in northern areas - Michigan, Minnesota, Canada. Origin, history of cultivation. Juneberries have been collected from the wild by Native Americans and early settlers for centuries.
Cultivation is relatively limited.
Folklore, medicinal and non-food uses. Crude extracts of Amelanchier utahensis are being studied for use as cancer therapy drugs. Some feel that the industry could expand to about 4000 ha in the northern great plains. Fruit ripen evenly in June-July, and can therefore be mechanically harvested. In fact, juneberries would be managed very similar to blueberries if planted to large acreages.