Episode 8.8: Taming the huckleberry

Meet Steve Cook, the head of the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology at University of Idaho. He researches huckleberries and today he’s discussing why they’re so hard to domesticate and what he and his team are doing to solve that problem. If we’re lucky, he might give us some huckleberry hunting tips as well.

Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu.

Can you tell us about your first huckleberry hunt?

Cook delves into the tricky yet fascinating world of huckleberries, those wild delicacies that are beloved in the Pacific Northwest and are notoriously difficult to grow. He explains some of the reasons why huckleberries are so tough to domesticate, citing their early blooming season and their reliance on insect pollination — though they can self-pollinate, they do best with a little help from nature. Cook also hints at another possible factor: a microbial fungus underground, possibly linked to conifer trees, that might be crucial for huckleberries’ survival and growth. There’s also a fight against the invasive black vine weevil, a troublesome pest. Cook and his team are testing natural solutions like nematodes (surprisingly human-friendly microscopic roundworms) to eliminate these pests without relying on harsh chemicals. But the real challenge lies in the mystery of the huckleberry’s genetics: without a complete DNA sequence, scientists can’t fully understand the species or potential hybrids, leaving them in the dark about how to successfully domesticate these wild berries. While huckleberries may be stubborn, Cook remains optimistic, pointing out that the difficulty in domesticating them isn’t unheard of in the plant world — just ask bananas. And for those curious about where to find huckleberries, the advice is clear: follow the bears and head high into the mountains.

Time stamps

(00:00) Introduction
(4:06) Getting to know Steve
(5:38) Taming huckleberries
(14:13) Pest control
(19:05) Huckleberry hunting tips
(21:00) Huckleberry species
(21:55) Best huckleberry foods
(22:35) Huckleberry frustrations
(24:32) Conclusion

Music

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified.
“Happy Go Chillin’” by Matthew Trent Cropper via Amphibious Zoo.