ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Berries are considered soft fruits and include botanically different types of fruits such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, gooseberries and currants, and raspberries (Table 1). These fruits are used as desserts as well as in processing. They are canned, frozen, or made into jams, jellies, or preserves. The juices are used in beverages and ice cream. Production figures for all berries are not available. However, they are produced mainly in the United States, European countries, North America, China (l), and the USSR (Table 2). New Zealand is the largest producer of kiwi fruit (Table 3), followed by Italy, Japan, France, the United States, and Chile (l). Germany, Austria, and Japan are the major importers, with high per-capita consumption. The rapid rise in kiwi fruit production, including highly successful international trade and rapid spread of production makes this fruit the most successful new fruit crop of this century (2).
II. BOTANY Blackberries are native to North America. They have strong and erect stems, except for the dewberry (Rubus procumbens). Blackberries vary in color, ranging from dark red to reddish black. Brison, Rosborough Womack, Cheyenne, and Hull Thornless are some of the cultivars of blackberries.
