Currants and Gooseberries belong to the genus Ribes. The name "Currant" may have been derived from "Corinth," a city in Greece which shipped small raisins called currants throughout Europe. The Greek "currant" which was traded at the time, like the common modern raisin, was actually a dried grape. The misnomer stuck because of the similarity in color and size of red and black currants to dried grape raisins. The French word for currant, "Groseille," may have been mispronounced over time to arrive at the name "gooseberry."

Early pagan cultures believed that fairies would shelter from danger in the prickly bushes and hence gooseberries became known as 'fayberries.' Gooseberry juice which is quite high in vitamin C, (see chart below) was also used as a medicine in the treatment of fevers and in the sixteenth century were recommended to treat plague victims. Gooseberry clubs where members fiercely competed by growing the variety that produced the biggest, best and juiciest fruit of the year, were quite popular in the north of England.

Currant cultivation has been practiced in Europe since the 1500's, possibly earlier. European Gooseberry production began in the early 1700's. The first American colonists began growing currants by the late 1700's. Ribes are native to cooler climates of the northern hemisphere. Europe, Asia, and North America all have native species. Today nearly all large scale ribe production is concentrated in Europe and the USSR.

Gooseberry & Black Currant shrubs can host a disease harmful to white pine trees called white pine blister rust fungus, Since the white or five-needled pine, Pinus strobus, was a major timber species in the early 1900's, a federal ban was imposed on the cultivation of certain Ribes spp. The ban was lifted in 1966, but many states in the United States still prohibit cultivation of Black Currants. Today's currant and gooseberry varieties are bred for resistance or immunity to the white pine blister rust disease. Before planting any gooseberry or currant in an area populated with white pine, it would be wise to contact your county extension office for up-to-date restrictions or recommendations.

Home gardeners are bringing Currants and Gooseberries back into popularity since they are easy to grow and make attractive additions to the home landscape. As well as being a rich source of vitamin C, these tart-sweet black, red, yellow-green or whitish-colored berries, currants and gooseberries are excellent in jams, juices and pies and are easy to freeze. Both currants and gooseberries are often used to add color and flavor to many popular dishes because of their rich hue and tart flavor. A French brandy is made from the black currant cultivar 'Noir de Bourgogne.' Gooseberries can also be used as an accompaniment to meat dishes as well as a zingy addition to foul stuffing.

You can see what a great source of Vitamin C Ribes contain in the nutritional value of the gooseberry noted below:

For more on growing Currants or Gooseberries visit our Ribes Planting and Culturing Guide.