Huckleberries

A Masters Degree in huckleberries is unique but Andra Forney is a woman blazing her own path in the field of ethnobotany. So where does one go to research huckleberries? Right here in Cranbrook.

Andra Forney is a M.SC. candidate at the University of Victoria and she has spent the summer here in Cranbrook and in the surrounding area doing reseach about huckleberries She has spoken widely to the First Nations communities for whom the huckleberry was a very important food source. Efforts to preserve the berry included drying them over fires or in the sun and varied depending on local practice. Many other local people shared their stories of picking berries which were not only a food source but also provided many family memories. While peoples were forthcoming with stories about days spent picking huckleberries and huckleberry recipes they were not specific about their picking locations. Locations are a tightly guarded secret often only shared between family members.

While here Andra has been working with Michael Keefer of Keefer Ecological Services who has been doing ongoing research into Huckleberries as well. Michael has been looking at the effects of timber harvesting on huckelberries and why some huckleberry bushes produce in abundance. This will provide some insight into possible commercial production. There have been ongoing attempt to produce a huckleberry which would be able to be commercially harvested. Huckleberries like blueberries are very high in antioxidants and would be highly valued as a nutritional superfood. Perhaps this inability to purchase commercially grown Huckleberries has made them all the more special.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your summer with us Andra and good luck at University of Victoria this fall.