When is Currant Picking Season: A Complete Guide

The varieties of currants are harvested at different seasons in different regions, which makes it also like a puzzle to prepare for the right time to pick your favorite type of currant. At Champlain Orchards, we grow freshly ripe white and red currants using sustainable farming practices, and we receive many visitors in Vermont to pick these nutritional powerhouses.

This guide will put you through all the things you need for picking currants, from the right seasons to preservation techniques and sweet recipes.

When is Currant Picking Season?

As mentioned earlier, several things should be considered before you head out to pick currants near you. You have to consider the variety of currants you are looking to get, the climate, and your location. 

Here's a breakdown of when the current picking season typically occurs across different regions:

Different Types of Currants and Their Seasons

Let’s talk about the variety of currants. You may not be familiar with them, so let’s introduce you to what they have to offer.:

Red Currants

The red currant is the most popular currant among fruit-picking enthusiasts. They have the earliest ripening time, so you have to be on your toes. They often begin ripening from mid-June through July in Vermont, which is just after strawberries but before many raspberry varieties appear, 

They appear as clusters, similar to grapes. They have a bright and translucent red hue and are slightly soft to the touch. Picking red currants yourself is the best decision because they halt ripening once they are picked. This also means the ones you will get in stores are either unripe or have been ripe for a while.

Black Currants

One currant type that we don’t deal with much at Champlain is the black currant. They mature about two weeks after the red variety. The black currant picking season generally runs from early to mid-July through August in cooler climates like Vermont. 

Appearance-wise, black currant possesses a deep pigmentation, as its name suggests. Black currants have gained popularity among health-conscious consumers for good reason. According to research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, black currants’ taste and constitution are highly affected by their growing conditions. In general, they do have a tangy or tart flavor, which is surprising because they contain way more vitamin C than oranges. 

White Currants

During our pick-your-own fruit season, we have the Pink Champagne, a white currant mutant with a pink hue. This currant variant is a subspecies of the red currant, and it offers a very sweet taste. They follow a similar ripening schedule to their red cousins, becoming ready for picking in mid to late June in most northeastern regions.

How to Tell When Currants Are Ready for Picking

Successful current picking depends on recognizing the signs of peak ripeness:

For red and white currants, look for:

• Uniform color throughout the entire cluster (bright red or translucent yellow)

• Slight give when gently squeezed

• Easy detachment from the stem when rolled between fingers

Black currants show readiness when:

• Berries deepen to a dark purple-black color

• The fruit softens slightly

• Their characteristic musky aroma becomes more pronounced

Unlike cherry picking, where individual fruit selection works best, experienced pickers usually harvest entire currant clusters at once. This technique, called "stripping," works efficiently and prevents damage to the delicate berries.

Tips for Successful Currant Harvesting

From years of guiding visitors through their first currant picking experience at Champlain Orchards, we've gathered these practical tips:

1. Early morning harvesting produces the freshest results. Berries picked before the day heat up stay firm longer.
   
   

2. Bring shallow containers. Currants can easily crush under their own weight if piled too deeply.
   
   

3. Look underneath branches where hidden clusters often ripen more slowly but may contain the largest berries.
   
   

4. Handle with care. The skins of currants are quite thin, it’s very easy to pinch through. A bruised currant spoils faster.
   
   

5. Leave the "strigs" (stems) attached if you won't process the berries immediately. This significantly extends freshness.
   
   

The sustainable farming practices at Champlain Orchards ensure our currant bushes produce healthy, chemical-free berries. Our integrated pest management system works harmoniously with nature, creating an ecosystem where beneficial insects help control pests naturally.

Beyond Currants: Complementary Picking Seasons

You can enjoy more than current charities in the summer. It’s berry season, and you can catch up on all of the squishy, flavorful goodness. Here are the fruits to target for picking or purchase at our farm market that boasts the freshest harvests:

Early to mid-summer: The end of the strawberry season sometimes overlaps with the beginning of current availability, creating perfect pairings for mixed berry desserts.

Mid-summer: The real twins will be the cherries and the currants. Cherry picking season in Vermont typically coincides with the current, allowing you to harvest both during the same farm visit.

Late summer: As the current season winds down, raspberry picking begins to peak, creating a smooth transition between berry harvests.

Preserving Your Currant Harvest

Fresh currants last only 3-5 days when refrigerated, but their high pectin content makes them excellent candidates for preservation. Years of post-picking experimentation have shown these methods work best:

• Freezing: You can store your unwashed currants in airtight containers and freeze. Though the freshness will reduce, it is kept edible for a longer period.
  
  

• Jams and jellies: The natural pectin in currants creates a perfect set of jams and jellies without additives, making preservation easy even for beginners.

• Conversion: There are interesting currant recipes you can employ to convert your currants into sweet, lasting drinks and sauces.
  
  

• Drying: Dehydrated currants become sweeter and make excellent additions to baked goods year-round.
  
  

Visit Champlain Orchards for Sustainable Currant Picking

Carrying out your current picking at Champlain Orchards goes beyond just fruit picking. Our family-owned farm grows several fruits in-house. We boast of 175 varieties of Eco-Certified apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, nectarines, and berries.

Furthermore, the experience is the best for a communal feel. All agricultural practices are eco-friendly and easy to do. You can come with your family during any of our fruit-picking events and immerse yourself in green life enjoyment.

During the currant season, you are taught how to pick the available variants and even given tips on what you can do with them, there’s more where this article comes from. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the picking process, help identify perfectly ripe clusters, and share recipe suggestions for your harvest.

Plan your visit to Champlain Orchards this current season and discover how sustainable fruit picking creates memories and tastes that last long after summer ends. While here, explore our fruits and fruit products on our online store. Peruse through goodies from ciders to preserves that capture Vermont's exceptional flavors.