For The Love Of Huckleberries: August Brings Out Hunters Of Elusive Fruit
Every year, lovers of these tart, juicy berries trek into the forests of the Northwest to pick them at great effort. No one's managed to grow them commercially just yet, but their fans keep trying.
Starting in late summer, national forests in Northwestern states like Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho fill with eager berry hunters hoping to find a cache of dark maroon huckleberries. It's common for demand to exceed supply, leading to conflicts between Native Americans who have certain reserved picking areas, commercial pickers, and families hoping to continue their summer traditions.
Related to both blueberries and cranberries, the fruit is so juicy that it has to be dried, processed, or eaten soon after picking which makes huckleberry season feel especially fleeting, when it often only lasts from August through September.They were
