Mulberries

Mulberries are almost never sold commercially because they are too soft and too perishable to ship, which is exactly why a local pick is the only way to get them. Fully ripe fruit is nearly black, deeply sweet, and comes away at a touch; red fruit is still tart and underripe. They stain everything they touch, so use a bowl you do not love and keep them off pale countertops. Sold fresh through local Alabama delivery, farm pickup, and our farmers-market stand.

• Grown in: Lineville, Alabama (no synthetic pesticides)
• Freshness: Harvested at peak and sold fresh
• Availability: Seasonal - local Alabama delivery & pickup
• Storage: Refrigerate and enjoy fresh
• Why it's good: Nutrient-dense and picked at peak freshness

• Storage: Unwashed in a shallow layer, refrigerated, in a container you do not mind staining
• Shelf life: 1 to 2 days - shorter than any other berry we pick
• Washing: Only at the moment of use. Mulberries are soft to begin with and water finishes them.
• Using: Eat them cold and immediately, or freeze them the day they arrive. They also cook down into a very good sauce or syrup, and their low acidity means a squeeze of lemon helps.

Why can I never buy these in a shop?
Because they cannot ship. Mulberries are too soft and too short-lived to survive a distribution chain, so the only realistic way to eat one is to get it from someone local within a day or two of picking.

How do I know they are ripe?
Fully ripe fruit is nearly black, deeply sweet, and comes away at a touch. Red fruit is still tart and underripe, and it will not improve off the tree.

Will the stains come out?
Off skin, yes, in a day. Off fabric and pale stone, often not. Use a dark bowl, keep them off the countertop, and rinse anything they touch straight away.