A new lurker here. What a wonderful and light food journey. This was a blast!!! The state fruit of Minnesota is the Honeycrisp Apple. Minnesota through the extension at the University of Minnesota is responsible for most every famous apple people seem to enjoy. One of my favorite activities at the State Fair is waiting in line in the horticulture building to sample the latest and greatest apples the rest of the world might see a few years down the road. Can't wait to add huckleberry anything to my bucket list.
Thanks for your comment, Mark! You’ve really taught me something! Since so many of our apples here in California come from Washington, I just assumed the credit went to the state for developing them. How interesting to learn that the University of Minnesota is responsible for so many new apple varieties. Sampling the newbies at the fair sounds like a blast! 🍎 🍏 🍎
Thanks for such a kind note. I forwarded your huckleberry post to one of my favorite writers who writes about them frequently as she is loves her place in Montana. I'll send you a link to one of my favorite posts every year. The MN State Fair is the ultimate people watching event with more than 250,000 on a very busy day. We recently sold our home of many years and our little town included the University Agricultural Extension. I post about my day at the Fair each year and it includes apple talk. The link has a poster of some of the many apples the world enjoys thanks to the U as the locals call it. Hope you like it. FYI I found your delightful story thanks to a recent connection with Jolene Handy -- I will likely scan a few of your backlog. Who can resist food chat. https://markdolan.substack.com/p/conscience
Thanks for the link, Mark, and for sharing my post with your Montana friend. I’m super curious to learn more about huckleberries and would love one day to try picking them in the wild, though the thought of competing with hungry bears does give me pause!
I’m excited to read your post and learn more about the apples and everything else you write about.
Jolene is one of my very favorite bloggers and people, so I’m honored that you found me through her. I love discovering new foodie folks!🤗
You might enjoy some of the writing of Antonia Malchik (Montana) who writes "On the Commons". Consistent with your huckleberry and bear talk, I think her somewhat recent post has one of the VERY BEST titles I've ever seen on Substack. https://antonia.substack.com/p/if-a-bear-starts-to-eat-you -- I write sometimes about food and health. You might enjoy some of these if you have time https://markdolan.substack.co/t/food -- I originally engaged with Jolene as she explained the wonders of a hot dog. Loved that one. I am glad to have made the acquaintance and good luck with your writing.
Your road trip stories are fun to follow! Thanks for taking us with you and for sprinkling in informative tidbits.
Maine’s state fruit is the wild blueberry and I’ll go head to head with any huckleberry hound or not-Maine blueberry fan on which is better! (More from me on this in my post today!)
Thanks for your comment, Amie! Can’t wait to read your piece! I’ve definitely heard about Maine’s famous wild blueberries, but, alas, I’ve only tasted them in frozen form and am not sure that is the best way to judge. Huckleberry hype is undoubtedly in some part sheer hucksterism, but on a hot summer day, a shake--probably ANY variety--does go down easy.
I really want to try some huckleberries but doubt I can get my hands on them here in Oz. They sound wonderfully sweet and tart simultaneously.
I was interested in your comments about why Huckleberry Finn was so named, but all I could find was this...
“The word Huckleberry suggested to Twain a lowly person of rustic origins, much like the plant that produces small fruit, and resists cultivation.” Don’t know how true that is 😀
Thanks for adding that description of how Mark Twain may have arrived at Huck Finn’s name. It does seem to suit the character, at least on the surface. Now I’m curious and will try to find out more. Thanks as always for your perceptive comments, Marg!
The chocolate/huckleberry combo sounds good but when I heard the name I thought it might be a combo with those sugary jelly squares called Chuckles that I used to have growing up.
Funny, Ellen! I wonder how a shake made with Chuckles candies would taste. Most likely it’s been tried as there are SO many candy- and snack-based shake flavors-- butterfinger, cookies and cream, peanut butter cup, M&M, and on and on.
New Hampshire's state fruit is (and again it's something people might think of as a vegetable) the pumpkin. If it's formed from the flowering part of a plant and contains seed - it's a fruit. Peppers are fruits as well.
Interesting hearing the Huckleberry Hound theme. Near the end of our California residency our dance coach came up with a dance for a Christmas show which we danced to ... the Snap, Crackle, Pop - Rice Crispies jingle. A similar vibe to Huck Hound's. I was "Pop" in the dance. :-)
I just looked up the state fruit of New Jersey and discovered that it is the blueberry. I never knew that there was any difference between a huckleberry and a blueberry. Good to know! Your story reminded me of that classic children's book "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey. Enjoy the last stretch of your travels!
Thanks, Vicki! Interesting to know that blueberries are the state fruit of New Jersey. I imagine that everything you can make with huckleberries you can also make with blueberries. I’ve always heard that the wild blueberries of Maine are the best (though perhaps it’s the Mainers that say that!). I wonder if New Jersey’s are also great. Guess I need to do a berry deep dive into this fruit!🫐💙
It's a relief to know that huckleberries aren't just another cheaty name for blackberries (like marionberries in Oregon) or chokecherries (which I think go under other names!)
Thanks for reading, Annette! They’re real, not made up by a huckster, thankfully. I believe chokeberries are also, and Oregonians will have your hide for dissing Marionberries, but that may be grist for a future post!
Berry variations are one of the joys of the food world. Lots of blackberry hybrids for sure. I still miss olallieberry (especially in a pie at Linn's Fruit Bin in Cambria CA). Southern Ontario offers lots of loganberries. While similar, eaten side by side the taste and appearance differences are easy to note.
I looked up huckleberries before you replied, and yes, you're quite right that they are their own thing! I have chokeberries in my freezer that came under another name, so not sure about that... And as for marionberries? Portlandia already had a field day with those, with the help of Bobby Flay. 😂 Glad to see you give attention to lesser -known wild berries! Thanks! 😀
Thanks, Judy! Poor us--we had to have a second shake just to get the picture! But all good things come to an end. We return to Earth (aka L.A.) in a few hours.
The next time you visit Glacier Park, let me know. I'll bake you the best fresh-right-off-the-mountain-side huckleberry pie 😉 ~ Leigh
Oh wow! It’s a deal! I’d love to go picking with you too!🤗
We will have to blindfold when we take you to the honey hole 😉
So fun! Lived in SLO as newltweds
A new lurker here. What a wonderful and light food journey. This was a blast!!! The state fruit of Minnesota is the Honeycrisp Apple. Minnesota through the extension at the University of Minnesota is responsible for most every famous apple people seem to enjoy. One of my favorite activities at the State Fair is waiting in line in the horticulture building to sample the latest and greatest apples the rest of the world might see a few years down the road. Can't wait to add huckleberry anything to my bucket list.
Thanks for your comment, Mark! You’ve really taught me something! Since so many of our apples here in California come from Washington, I just assumed the credit went to the state for developing them. How interesting to learn that the University of Minnesota is responsible for so many new apple varieties. Sampling the newbies at the fair sounds like a blast! 🍎 🍏 🍎
Thanks for such a kind note. I forwarded your huckleberry post to one of my favorite writers who writes about them frequently as she is loves her place in Montana. I'll send you a link to one of my favorite posts every year. The MN State Fair is the ultimate people watching event with more than 250,000 on a very busy day. We recently sold our home of many years and our little town included the University Agricultural Extension. I post about my day at the Fair each year and it includes apple talk. The link has a poster of some of the many apples the world enjoys thanks to the U as the locals call it. Hope you like it. FYI I found your delightful story thanks to a recent connection with Jolene Handy -- I will likely scan a few of your backlog. Who can resist food chat. https://markdolan.substack.com/p/conscience
Thanks for the link, Mark, and for sharing my post with your Montana friend. I’m super curious to learn more about huckleberries and would love one day to try picking them in the wild, though the thought of competing with hungry bears does give me pause!
I’m excited to read your post and learn more about the apples and everything else you write about.
Jolene is one of my very favorite bloggers and people, so I’m honored that you found me through her. I love discovering new foodie folks!🤗
You might enjoy some of the writing of Antonia Malchik (Montana) who writes "On the Commons". Consistent with your huckleberry and bear talk, I think her somewhat recent post has one of the VERY BEST titles I've ever seen on Substack. https://antonia.substack.com/p/if-a-bear-starts-to-eat-you -- I write sometimes about food and health. You might enjoy some of these if you have time https://markdolan.substack.co/t/food -- I originally engaged with Jolene as she explained the wonders of a hot dog. Loved that one. I am glad to have made the acquaintance and good luck with your writing.
Thanks, Mark!
You and Jeff! Love this post, Ruth, and the theme from “Huckleberry Hound” took me waaay back! Also, drooling at that shake!
Thanks, Jolene! We’ve been having fun. Jeff won’t stop belting out that theme! The shake was delish. Wishing I had another right now!
🥤🥤🥤
Your road trip stories are fun to follow! Thanks for taking us with you and for sprinkling in informative tidbits.
Maine’s state fruit is the wild blueberry and I’ll go head to head with any huckleberry hound or not-Maine blueberry fan on which is better! (More from me on this in my post today!)
Thanks for your comment, Amie! Can’t wait to read your piece! I’ve definitely heard about Maine’s famous wild blueberries, but, alas, I’ve only tasted them in frozen form and am not sure that is the best way to judge. Huckleberry hype is undoubtedly in some part sheer hucksterism, but on a hot summer day, a shake--probably ANY variety--does go down easy.
I really want to try some huckleberries but doubt I can get my hands on them here in Oz. They sound wonderfully sweet and tart simultaneously.
I was interested in your comments about why Huckleberry Finn was so named, but all I could find was this...
“The word Huckleberry suggested to Twain a lowly person of rustic origins, much like the plant that produces small fruit, and resists cultivation.” Don’t know how true that is 😀
Thanks for adding that description of how Mark Twain may have arrived at Huck Finn’s name. It does seem to suit the character, at least on the surface. Now I’m curious and will try to find out more. Thanks as always for your perceptive comments, Marg!
I love this edition. Can't wait to try huckleberries!
Thanks, Julia! If you’re anywhere in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington in summer, you’re almost sure to find some!
Just loved this, and now I’d really like a huckleberry shake or piece of pie or anything with huckleberries in it.
Thanks, Donna! Well we’re going to have to do something to fulfill that yen next time we get together--soon, I hope!
The chocolate/huckleberry combo sounds good but when I heard the name I thought it might be a combo with those sugary jelly squares called Chuckles that I used to have growing up.
Funny, Ellen! I wonder how a shake made with Chuckles candies would taste. Most likely it’s been tried as there are SO many candy- and snack-based shake flavors-- butterfinger, cookies and cream, peanut butter cup, M&M, and on and on.
New Hampshire's state fruit is (and again it's something people might think of as a vegetable) the pumpkin. If it's formed from the flowering part of a plant and contains seed - it's a fruit. Peppers are fruits as well.
Interesting hearing the Huckleberry Hound theme. Near the end of our California residency our dance coach came up with a dance for a Christmas show which we danced to ... the Snap, Crackle, Pop - Rice Crispies jingle. A similar vibe to Huck Hound's. I was "Pop" in the dance. :-)
Hmmm, so interesting, Crowden. I’ll have to look up the Snap, Crackle, Pop theme. Can’t recall it, but I think it must have been a thrill to be Pop!
Pop definitely has the "IT" factor among the three cereal elves. ;-)
I just looked up the state fruit of New Jersey and discovered that it is the blueberry. I never knew that there was any difference between a huckleberry and a blueberry. Good to know! Your story reminded me of that classic children's book "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey. Enjoy the last stretch of your travels!
Thanks, Vicki! Interesting to know that blueberries are the state fruit of New Jersey. I imagine that everything you can make with huckleberries you can also make with blueberries. I’ve always heard that the wild blueberries of Maine are the best (though perhaps it’s the Mainers that say that!). I wonder if New Jersey’s are also great. Guess I need to do a berry deep dive into this fruit!🫐💙
It's a relief to know that huckleberries aren't just another cheaty name for blackberries (like marionberries in Oregon) or chokecherries (which I think go under other names!)
Thanks for reading, Annette! They’re real, not made up by a huckster, thankfully. I believe chokeberries are also, and Oregonians will have your hide for dissing Marionberries, but that may be grist for a future post!
Berry variations are one of the joys of the food world. Lots of blackberry hybrids for sure. I still miss olallieberry (especially in a pie at Linn's Fruit Bin in Cambria CA). Southern Ontario offers lots of loganberries. While similar, eaten side by side the taste and appearance differences are easy to note.
I agree. Just FYI, I wrote about Linn’s Olallieberry pie last year: https://open.substack.com/pub/ruthtalksfood/p/a-berry-fine-pie?r=159j4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I looked up huckleberries before you replied, and yes, you're quite right that they are their own thing! I have chokeberries in my freezer that came under another name, so not sure about that... And as for marionberries? Portlandia already had a field day with those, with the help of Bobby Flay. 😂 Glad to see you give attention to lesser -known wild berries! Thanks! 😀
What an adorable picture of you and Jeff sipping the huckleberry shake. Another fun read of your amazing trip.
Thanks, Judy! Poor us--we had to have a second shake just to get the picture! But all good things come to an end. We return to Earth (aka L.A.) in a few hours.