Quick, Fun Blackberry IQ Test for New & Avid Blackberry Fans Alike

Driscoll’s is really excited about our Spring blackberries this year. Sweet, juicy and full of true blackberry flavor we encourage you to give them a try. Whether you are new to blackberries or are an avid blackberry fan here’s a quick way to test your Blackberry IQ.

Answers listed below.

1. What are the small bumps on a blackberry called?

   1. Bumps
   2. Bubbles
   3. Druplets
   4. Blackbursts

2. How long does it take to come up with a new variety of blackberries?

   1. 5 years
   2. 2 years
   3. 10 years
   4. A breeder’s lifetime (est. 100 years)

3. How many of the 10,000+ seedlings that each variety starts out as actually end up becoming a commercial variety?

   1. 10%
   2. 1%
   3. 7%
   4. Every single one but black bears claim nearly 80% of the crops every year

4. What are the little hairs on blackberries called?

   1. Fuzz
   2. Hair
   3. Styles
   4. Alfalfas

5. Where are blackberries grown? Select all that apply

   1. California
   2. Mexico
   3. Pacific Northwest
   4. Experimental Planting on the Moon

6. How long do farmers keep blackberry plants before having to replace them?

   1. 2 years
   2. 5 years
   3. 7 years
   4. Forever they just retire them to be Ivy after they stop fruiting

7. What makes an all-around great blackberry? Select all that apply

   1. Flavor
   2. How long they last on store shelves
   3. The number of druplets
   4. Aroma
   5. How well they sing AC/DC’s “Back in Black”

8. True or False. Temperature affects the flavor of blackberries.

   1. True
   2. False

ANSWERS:

• C is correct.

  Similar to raspberries, the blackberry bumps are called druplets. When choosing a good blackberry select those that have unblemished and consistently colored druplets.

• C is correct.

  The blackberries you will eat this spring are a result of variety decisions made 10 years ago. Each year, we study thousands of potential blackberry plants and evaluate their flavor, appearance, resistant to disease and ability to ship well and arrive fresh at the store. This process takes about 10 years to complete. From there Driscoll’s chooses only the top 1% of the varieties to plant, grow and make available for you to enjoy.

• B is correct.

  Through Driscoll’s proprietary breeding program we look at over 10,000 seedling varieties to narrow down to the one variety that will actually get planted and then handpicked for shipment to your grocery stores.

• C is correct

  Blackberries have tiny hairs called ‘styles’ and are a leftover from the blossom stage. In the blossom state these styles are critical for the pollination process. As the berry matures, the left over styles help to protect the berry from damage.
  

• A,B,C are correct

  Driscoll’s follows the sun to produce ‘Only the Finest Berries’. To do this we have several growing regions located across the globe in order to follow the summer season. For our North American consumers, blackberries are grown in Southern and Central California, Georgia, Pacific Northwest, Baja and Mexico.
  

• C is correct

  Blackberry farmers typically have their blackberry plants for 6 – 7 years before having to replant. Since Driscoll’s works with independent growers we rely on their expertise to determine how long the plants the plants will harvest blackberries that meet the Driscoll’s standards.

• A,B,D are correct.

  Creating an all-around great blackberry is an art and a science. It takes years and years of evaluating and tasting and then more evaluation and tasting to find a variety that we believe our berry fans will love. Flavor is the most important attribute when selecting a berry variety to commercially produce. The berry must be sweet and delicious above all else. Other factors considered are size, shape, aroma, shelf life and volume. And of course all Driscoll’s berries are non GMO.

• A. True is correct.

  Berries are very fragile and temperature sensitive. They last longest when kept refrigerated but taste best when allowed to come to room temperature before eating. We understand that most people can’t wait and just eat them cold out of the refrigerator. We do too!