Blackberry
BLAK-ber-ee • aggregate fruit
How to Tell if Blackberry is Ripe
Store CheckBlackberry is a non-climacteric fruit and does NOT ripen after being picked. It will only soften or rot. Buy it ready to eat.
👁 Visual Checks
- Look for uniform color without green under-tones
- Check for matte/dull skin rather than shiny plastic finish
- Look for natural sugar spots or field marks
✋ Tactile & Aroma
- Heft: Should feel heavy for its size (indicates juice content)
- Give: Slight yield under gentle palm pressure, never thumb poking
- Aroma: Fragrant sweet smell at the stem end
How to Store Blackberry
Storage Protocol: Store immediately in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Keep away from high ethylene emitters like bananas and apples.
Peak Seasonality & Harvest Geography
Local season peaks June-September across most of North America. Available year-round in grocery stores via imports from Mexico and Chile from October through May.
Common Varieties & PLU Codes
| Variety Name | PLU Codes | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Blackberry | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Marionberry | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Triple Crown | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Chester | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Black Diamond | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Kiowa | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Columbia Star | 4239 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
Kitchen Pairings & Chef Hacks
Flavor Pairings
Chef Hacks & Prep Tricks
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