Where are the ground cherries

July 11, 2006 10:08 PM

Where can I buy Ground cherries (gooseberries?) in Seattle?

I've looked at a bunch of websites, grocery stores and farmer's markets and I can't seem to find ground cherries in Seattle at all. I'm growing some on my balcony but I don't want to wait another 60 days to taste them. Thursday morning, I'm gonna try Pike Place, but if that doesn't work, where should I go? If you know any recipes also, please share...I've never been so fascinated with a fruit I've never tasted before.

posted by Slimemonster to food & drink (5 comments total)

I've seen them at the University District farmers market, but only in August, if I recall correctly.

If you're interested in seeing how ground cherries (Cape gooseberries) compare with ordinary gooseberries, you can get some of the latter now at the Tim's Fine Berries stand at the Lake City farmers market. Tim grows all kinds of small fruit, some of it fairly unusual; he'd be worth asking about ground cherries.
posted by sculpin at 10:46 PM on July 11, 2006

Aren't they a winter fruit? Trader Joe's sells a nice kiwi gooseberry jam I have been eating recently.
posted by emyd at 10:48 PM on July 11, 2006

July is the peak of berry season. Did you check Metropolitan Market? I thought I saw them there the other day.
posted by milkrate at 12:13 AM on July 12, 2006

ground cherries are so yummy. they don't taste like regular gooseberries at all to me, though.
posted by judith at 12:31 AM on July 12, 2006

If you don't see them at the Farmer's Market, ask various fruit sellers if they grow them -- they may have them at a different time or have sold out that day -- that way you know when/whether to come back.

Uwajimaya often has unusual fruits and vegetables, but they are generally Asian. I'm not sure who would be most likely to carry Colombian fruits.
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:51 AM on July 12, 2006