Gooseberry ban
Fun fact! In the early 1900's, growing gooseberry and related currants was banned federally because of a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, which was deadly to all species of white pine. It was not until 1966 that the federal ban was lifted, instead shifting to individual jurisdictions.
Photo © AdobeStock.com/timolina
In the 1800’s, gooseberries were very popular in both Europe and the United States. By the early 1900’s New York was growing nearly 2,700 acres of the fruit. During that same time, growing gooseberry and related currants was banned federally because of a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, which was deadly to all species of white pine. It was not until 1966 that the federal ban was lifted, instead shifting to individual jurisdictions.
