blackberries close to road

[barefootlinzi]

how close to a road is too close when you pick blackberries for wine? i have just picked loads from bushes about 10/12 feet from a moderatly busy road. it gets a good breeze as its higher than surrounding areas.

[prison break fan]

Hi, last year I read in the paper that as long as you wash blackberries before you use them it doesn't matter how close to the road you pick them. Just don't get run over! In wine I'm sure they will be fine. pbf

[mrsflibble]

PBF is right, was them. they're fine. Cooking or wining them gives extra security, but unless you're going to start walking around with a mask over your face to keep out the fumes I'd not worry about it.

[richyboy]

I concur.

My only rule of blackberrying is to never pick anything lower than waist-height. I've yet to meet the dog who can cock its leg higher than that!

[Rosendula]

I don't go for all the 'too close to the road' argument at all. I have fruit bushes and herbs in my front garden which is on a very busy road with buses going in each direction every 6-7 minutes at peak times. I wash most of the fruit before I use it, but some doesn't get as far as the kitchen

When you drive anywhere out of town, there are fields full of all sorts of foods that eventually get to the dinner table. All are out in the open, next to roads with all sorts of traffic going past. Because we don't harvest those big fields, we only buy and then eat the food, we tend not to think about it too much.

I also heard a convincing argument that brought catalytic converters into it, but although I understood it, I wouldn't have a clue how to repeat it. Perhaps someone else can help out there?

[Turf cutter man]

Sorry but I have to disagree. Blackberries are one of those plants that absorb toxins at a very high level, so washing them won't get rid.

All plants/trees vary in how much they absorb. That is why in london and other big cities they plant certain trees to absorb the toxins.(limes etc)

How much damage these toxins do you I cannot say. But the information was from a respected scientific study and not just here say. Shame blackberries are so effected while other things are not nad you see so many by the road side. If the car fumes reach them they will absorb it.

Sorry to be the messenger of bad news