Unique Features: The Prime Ark Freedom is the world’s first thornless primocane (first year) fruiting blackberry. It was developed by the University of Arkansas and released in 2013. The extra-large, 9 to 12 gram and up to 1 ¾’’ long, blackberries have an excellent sweet flavor.  The Freedom can produce fruit in the 1st year if planted earlier in the season and thereafter can produce 2 crops per year. It can also be grown for just a single crop and then be cut back to ground level in the winter. The fruit doesn’t ship well so look for it in the local farmers’ markets.  The Freedom has erect canes but will benefit from some support due to the heavy fruit load. ‘Tipping’ them will give earlier, heavier crops. This is just cutting an inch off the top of the cane when it’s about 12’’ tall and again when it’s about 30’’ tall.