Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Peak: may, june
Choosing: If have a mulberry tree, or two, or more, then selecting them is as simple as picking the ripe fruit. On the other hand, when purchasing at a market, look for plump, well-rounded, firm berries and make sure they are dry and not leaking juice. It is a good idea to carefully check the berries in and at the bottom of the container, or basket, before purchasing to ensure none of the berries are crushed or moldy. Handle the berries gently as any that are damaged or crushed quickly loss precious vitamins.
Buying: You can get Mulberries from your local grocery store.
Procuring: To harvest, look for dark, purple-black fruits. You will likely see green, red (ripening), and the ripe purple-black berries at the same time. When ripe, the mulberry tree will likely be full of birds! They love them and will flock to our tall mulberry tree...leaving more strawberries and cherries for us. All 3 fruits mature at the same time here in MO.
Preparation and Use
Like any other berry fruit, mulberries can be served in a multitude of ways. They combine well with other fruits. Simply use them as you would any other berry.
Try mulberries as a fruit beverage or showcase them in a dessert. I hope you will enjoy fresh mulberries while they are available.
Cleaning: Whether prepping for a recipe or preparing for serving, gently rinse, drain and pat the berries dry, if necessary.
Conserving and Storing
Mulberries dehydrate and freeze well too. Clean the berries, then:
To dehydrate – place the whole berries on a dehydrator tray and dehydrate until the berries are completely dry through and through.
To freeze - place the berries on a flat surface, like a cutting board of a baking sheet, in a single layer, and place in the freeze until they are frozen. Transfer to an airtight freezer storage container, label and date. They should keep well up to 6 months.
Social/Political
The white mulberry, and to a lesser extent the red mulberry, are quite tolerant of drought, pollution and poor soil. The white mulberry is considered a weed tree in many parts of the country including urban areas. The black mulberry is more fastidious, faring less well in cold climates or areas with humid summers. The white mulberry is the most cold-hardy of the three species, although this varies from one clone to another. Some are damaged at 25° F, while others are unfazed at -25° F. Red mulberries are hardy to sub-zero temperatures. The black mulberry is the least cold-hardy of the three, although again cold tolerance seems to depend on the clone. In general it is limited to USDA Hardiness Zone 7 (0° to 10° F average minimum) or warmer. They have been planted only to a limited extent in America, mostly on the Pacific Coast. The mulberry makes a good town tree which will grow well in a tub.
History: The white mulberry is native to eastern and central China. It became naturalized in Europe centuries ago. The tree was introduced into America for silkworm culture in early colonial times and naturalized and hybridized with the native red mulberry. The red or American mulberry is native to eastern United States from Massachusetts to Kansas and down to the Gulf coast. The black mulberry is native to western Asia and has been grown for its fruits in Europe since before Roman times.
