The standard red variety is Red Lake. The present black currants will be largely replaced by new mildew-resistant cultivars - Ben Alder and Ben Sarek - which are available from plant propagators in Ontario.
They're an excellent source of Vitamin C and also contain fibre and iron.
Currant seeds have been found in prehistoric Danish sites. It's speculated that the Vikings may not have named their Newfoundland settlement, Vineland, after grapes, but for the wild currants found there.
Currants were first domesticated in Scandinavia, around 1600. The cultivated varieties came to North America after taking root in England.
This site is maintained by the Government of Ontario, Canada.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
