Wild Berries and Jams in Alaska

Wild berries are widely gathered in Alaska and made into jams, jellies, and syrups. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service lists species such as blueberries, cloudberries, salmonberries, nagoonberries, and highbush and lowbush cranberries [1][2].

Species

The Cooperative Extension Service lists Alaska blueberries (Vaccinium uliginosum), red huckleberries, cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus), nagoonberries (Rubus arcticus), highbush cranberries (Viburnum edule), salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis), lowbush cranberries also called lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), serviceberries, crowberries, wild strawberries, currants, American red raspberry, gooseberries, and watermelon berries [1].

Salmonberries

Salmonberry is a member of the rose family related to raspberries. It is a woody, thorny shrub reaching up to seven feet, with rosy-purple flowers and salmon-yellow or red fruit that resembles large raspberries. It grows in moist coastal regions of Southeast, Southcentral, and Southwest Alaska, on stream banks, alpine slopes, coastal meadows, and avalanche chutes [2].

Harvest and storage

Salmonberries are harvested in mid to late summer, depending on location, and hand-picking works best because the fruit is very fragile. They can be eaten raw or made into jams, jellies, syrups, juice, or fruit leather. Spread-out berries can be frozen for up to two years, but drying is not recommended because the berries are seedy and dry slowly. Fresh berries keep only two to three days in the refrigerator, and many recipes press softened berries through a food mill because the seeds stay tough after cooking [2].

Jams

The Extension publication gives tested recipes, including a salmonberry freezer jam and a salmonberry rhubarb jam that is processed in a boiling water canner; readers should follow the published recipe instructions exactly [2].

FAQs

Which wild berries grow in Alaska? Examples include blueberries, cloudberries, nagoonberries, salmonberries and lowbush cranberries [1].

How long do fresh salmonberries keep? Only two to three days in the refrigerator [2].

Can salmonberries be dried? Drying is not recommended because the berries are seedy and dry slowly [2].

Sources

1. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service: Berries
2. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service: Salmonberries

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue