Found all over the United States, including Idaho, these purple berries called chokecherries possess as much as 50 percent more antioxidants than more common berries according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
However, the raw berries are extremely tart (hence the name "chokeberry") so they're best when cooked and made into juice, jam or wine.
Chokecherries become ripe usually at the end of summer, around August and September. They are found on small shrub-like bushes that get to be about five feet tall. Because these berries aren’t preferred to eat just off the bush like strawberries or raspberries, sometimes they are considered pests.
However, chokecherries fight harmful free radicals, help the body maintain it’s pH range, and is rich in antioxidant and immune-enhancing ingredients.
Don’t pull these bushes out to make room for other berries. Smash them, juice them or jam them and get the healthy benefits from this helpful berry!
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