Mmmm...

Gooseberries and currants...

Gooseberry

So sweet, juicy, and just ripe.

Great for eating, jam making, pies and saft.

(Saft is a Scandinavian word for a fruit or berry blend concentrate

that is mixed with water to make a refreshing drink)

I ate a lot while staying at my parents house in Sweden.

Red Currant

I want some in my own garden here in Massachusetts.

But there seems to be a problem. They were banned for decades in the U.S. because they belong to a spices that help in the spread of the white pine blister rust that killed a lot of white pines in the early 1900s. The curious thing is that this deadly fungus needs to spend part of its life cycle on an alternate host. And that alternate host? Currant or gooseberry.

While doing research trying to find plants for my garden, I've found information that says that it is either illegal or strongly discouraged to plant these shrubs here in Massachusetts. But I've also found information that says that plants have been developed that are highly resistant to the decease.

All I want is someone to give me some information on what the names are on these highly decease resistant plants, were to find them, and that it is okay for me to plant them in my garden.

Can you help me?