They also grow in the Midwest but except for people's gardens, I've only seen them at farmer's markets. A regional favorite in rural areas is gooseberry pie. Be prepared to remove lots and lots of little prickly things.
In Dallas, if you have a Whole Foods, ask the produce department if they could order some for you -- you'd probably have to get a flat (like other berries are shipped in). ...Or other grocery or produce stores might help.
I love jeinde's suggestion to grow your own. Where I lived in Northern California they grew wild and abundantly. Friends would harvest them from surrounding low-lying areas verging upon coniferous forests and make jam from them.
i just bought a pint at the greenmarket in nyc! thinking hard about what to do with them... what did you usually do with them in ireland? good luck finding!
Oh gosh, where do I begin ! My grandaunt used to grow them and I used to pick and eat them. Horrible raw ! Bitter. I made gooseberry crumble, gooseberry tart, gooseberry jam, gooseberry & elderflower preserve, gooseberry ice cream and my favorite... Gooseberry Fool. I am getting some sent to make jams and some of the above ! Nice to meet you.
just saw your response!! sorry i missed it before i responded again.... those sound fantastic. i think i will try the gooseberry and elderflower preserve. thanks!
You might want to try growing them. Miller Nursery in Canaandaigua NY sells them and per their catalogue they are OK in your zone 8. I grow them in hot and humid DE with no problem. Just harvested the last of my crop.
Thank you so very much. I really appreciate this a lot. I am doing this for sentimental reasons ! Helps when I get a little homesick from time to time!
They're all over the place in the Pacific NW. I've been able to find them at farmer's markets and some supermarkets. However, when I lived in the South, I had never seen a gooseberry, so it might make a big difference where you are.
Sorry, by mistake I deleted the answer from Monita, one of our members. She said: I've seen them at Manhattan Fruit in Chelsea Market in NYC. Online you can check sidwainer.com
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Also, we're seeing them at farmers markets in New York City now!