We picked gooseberries for show today, they are being displayed at the RHS Tatton Park show. They have to be as uniform as possible, taking neither the biggest nor the smallest, but the ones that most represent the average size for the variety. We placed them in recycled carton punnets in lines, so that they are easy to take out and placed on a plate. We picked enough to fit a big plate, which was around two punnets worth, double layered. We lined each layer with tissue especially the second one to prevent the round fruit from moving around too much. We pick them with their stalks on, so that the fruit doesn't bleed.
Some of the varieties were more prone to American gooseberry mildew. If there wasn't enough flawless fruit and the blemish could be hidden e.g. affected only on one side, these were picked also, as the fruit will not be picked up or tasted.
Other varieties of note 'Early Sulphur' - sweet and flavoursome. 'Gaulter's Variety' a red one my friend Robert describes as tasting of plums and champagne. 'Invicta' is a popular one, though sweet and resistant to mildew is rather bland.