Berries

Updated: January 14, 2026

When you taste something tangy, sweet, and juicy, what pops into your mind? Berries! They're delicious on desserts like cheesecake, in fresh fruit salad, over ice cream, or even sprinkled with sugar. Hungry yet?

Berries in Montana

Montana is home to many kinds of berries:

• Huckleberries - Montana's state fruit! Deep purple, sweet and tart. Best picked mid-August to mid-September in places like Glacier National Park and the Bitterroot Mountains.
• Blackberries - Grow on bushes, black and bumpy.
• Raspberries - Red, grow on bushes, with tiny seeds.
• Strawberries - Bright red, leafy green tops, grow close to the ground.

You can buy berries at the store, but picking them yourself is super fun! Just remember berries grow wild on public lands—bring bear spray and make noise so you don't surprise a bear.

How to Pick the Best Berries

Look for berries that are plump, bright, and full of color. Native Americans used berries as natural dyes, food, and even medicine!

Why Berries Are Good for You

Berries have lots of vitamins and antioxidants that keep you healthy:

• Vitamin C for strong white blood cells and fighting sickness.
• Vitamin A helps your eyes and skin.
• Fiber for healthy digestion.

Berry Businesses in Montana

Many local companies make treats from Montana berries, and earn a "Made in Montana" label. You'll find all kinds of berry products:

Montana Berry Growers Association - Helps farms sell fresh and frozen berries and gives resources to growers

At the annual Made in Montana trade show in Helena (March 2026), you can even find berry lotions, soaps, and candles.

Fun Ways to Use Berries

• Jam or jelly on toast
• Pancakes with berries mixed in
• Ice cream sundaes topped with berries
• Berry lemonade or smoothies
• Berry muffins or hot cereal
• Berry lotions, soaps, and shampoo

Can you think of more fun ways to use berries? Try adding them to yogurt, oatmeal, salads, or even homemade face masks. What wild recipe will you invent?

Here's a fun berry recipe:

Melt-In-Your-Mouth-Huckleberry Cake

2 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cup fresh huckleberries

Beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine in large bowl until creamy; add 1 cup white sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla until light and creamy. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk. Fold in beaten egg whites. Fold in the fresh berries. Shake a little of the dry ingredients over the berries, before adding them to the mix so the berries won't sink to the bottom.

Turn into a greased 8 by 8-inch pan. Sprinkle top of the batter lightly with granulated sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Visit montanakids.com's Activities and Games section for more Montana recipes.

Updated: January 14, 2026