The first question is how old is the neighborhood? Was this a neighborhood built around 1910, or 1950, or 1970? The reason I ask is that this defines the number of decades the near-street area was accumulating residues of leaded gas before it was banned, and how long other pollutants were accumulating before today's much cleaner cars.

In terms of the safety of eating the fruit, the trees should be no problem. They should sequester minerals and toxins in the heartwood of the trunk, and the chance of problems with the fruit are slim to none.

The berries are potentially more of a problem.... If this is a post-1970 neighborhood, I wouldn't worry about it. If it is an older neighborhood, I think you're smart to be concerned, but you have a couple of options.

Berries are generally not very deeply or widely rooted, compared to some other kinds of plants. And it sounds like you are looking at more discrete and controlled berry plants, rather than something that spreads wildly.

You could use some sort of raised bed approach, of course, with new soil. Or you could figure out where the berries will be, take out the soil down at least a foot, and at least three feet out beyond the stems of the berry you plant, and then fill with soil from elsewhere. If you go this route, it would be easier to put the berries near each other in one area. Less shoveling....

With either approach, I would gladly come eat berries at your house anytime (grins).

Thanks a lot, Linda. My neighborhood was developed in the 50's. So, your advise on planting the berries in fresh soil is greatly appreciated. For now, I am going to plant all my berries in containers temporarily until I can build a raised bed for them. And I will post back here when I get berries so you can stop by and get some :)

You're very welcome. And I look forward to the berries!

I don't suppose that you could spring for the airfare......

Ah, well.

Happy berrying! :-)