Wild berries are an important food source for wildlife and people in West Virginia. Locals have long gathered native berries like blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries, and more.

Strawberries and serviceberries ripen first in June, followed by blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries in July and August. Blueberries grow on mountain shrubs and are often picked in places like Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob. Elderberries ripen later in summer and are great for jelly. In the fall, wild grapes, persimmons, and cranberries appear, while winter berries like teaberry and partridgeberry can still be found. Juniper berries are used to flavor gin, and other berries like gooseberries and mulberries offer unique tastes throughout the year.

However, not all berries are safe. White or whitish berries, such as those from poison ivy and mistletoe, are poisonous. Unripe ground-cherries and may-apples, as well as seeds from cherries and pokeberries, are toxic. Some red berries, like red elderberry and bittersweet, can also be harmful. Even colorful berries from plants like holly and ginseng are not safe to eat.