Tiny but mighty, berries provide us with bursts of flavor all summer long. Monika Fabian and Nadine Modad, horticulture and agricultural engineers respectively at the Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences at the AUB (American University of Beirut), take us through the different varieties
Lebanon’s mountainous region is ideal for growing berries. Raspberries can be planted at an altitude of 900 meters and above since this variety needs the winter chill to yield more fruit. Raspberries thrive in soil with good drainage which is exactly why Nadine Modad started growing her delicious golden variety of raspberries on her family’s plot of land in Bzebdine, an area with sandstone soil. A few odd plants have now spread into 200 summer and ever-bearing (year-round) varieties that she now distributes to local markets.
According to Monika Fabian, the most popular berries among consumers are strawberries, mulberries and red raspberries, while red currants are frequently used by pastry shops as decoration for cakes. For strawberries, local nurseries begin seeing the fruits of their labor in early June, sometimes even as early as late May depending on the weather. Unlike raspberries, they grow at a much lower altitude requiring less chill. Red and golden raspberries appear in early June; the ever-bearing variety will continue through September to early November. Blackberries run for a few weeks beginning in July. Midsummer brings on the red and white currants and gooseberries. In a good season, blueberries may ripen from July all the way into September.
Those who would like to try planting berries at home should note that they rarely require spraying for pests, but they should be on their own, away from other plants, in order not to spread any disease. Most begin bearing fruit the year after you plant them, but bear in mind that they do spread quite rapidly so they must be monitored and the shrubs pruned regularly for stronger fruit.
As nature may have it, berries are also very good for you. You can find a number of healthful compounds including vitamins A, C, E, K, iron, magnesium, calcium and folic acid. Rich in fiber and anti-oxidants, berries are nature’s “super food”. They do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol. Low in calories, berries help to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, battle carcinogens, and help reduce inflammation of the joints. Studies have also shown that they may actually slow the effects of aging in the brain. In fact, doctors recommend eating berries every day, or at least a few times a week.
Diverse and delicious, berries can be consumed from breakfast until dinner. Blend berries into a shake made with strawberries, blackberries and blueberries mixed with yogurt and milk. Add a handful to muffins and pancakes or to top off a bowl of cereal; enjoy berries in a summer salad, or make a sauce for prime cuts of meat. And, berry desserts – cake, mousse, parfait, pie, tarts – are limited only by your imagination.
Summer berries in season
• Golden raspberry
• Black raspberry
• Purple raspberry
• Red raspberry
• White currant
• Red currant
• Black currant
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Gooseberry
• Strawberry (small plant)
• Mulberry (tree not a shrub)
