19 July 2017
The raspberry is a well-established product in the overall berry mix. However, it might not be enjoyed as much globally as its cousins, the strawberry and more recently, the blueberry. While the blueberry, of course, is the relative newcomer to the party, with its first ever commercial production reported in the USA in the 1920s, the raspberry has been around forever.
Having used the controversial term "forever", it is in the last 30 to 40 years that the genetics of the raspberry have been truly transformed. The first commercial sitings of this were with the varieties Heritage and Autumn Bliss, with the launch of primocane fruiting types. These produce flowers and fruit on newly produced canes every growing season. Now without getting all technical on you, early varieties such as the floricane variety Glen Lyon will produce fruit on the tips of their new canes too each year in certain growing conditions around the world. So, low chill unit varieties and light can manipulate this first season fruiting a little too.
However, the credit for the huge growth in fresh market raspberry production has to go to the primocane genetics. The ability to manipulate the production season with these genetics from a variation of planting dates, to producing and storing long canes, to double cropping in the same season are all now widely practised techniques that our technical people are confident with.
The production and fruit quality achieved from this primocane raspberry gene pool continues to break new records. Firmer and larger berries, with much more highly flavoured fruit and of course improved shipping are all technical improvements coming to market from our world class breeders. The perishability of the raspberry was something that only 15 years ago needed some attention, as it was widely thought that the humble fruit was the second most perishable item on the average supermarket shelf. This was out of a total of approximately 20000 products. Sushi held the number one position. That's where the challenge started.
So today, we have much to be pleased about as raspberry fanatics. We have and continue to offer improved raspberry varieties for a much wider geographical growing area. The breeders are excelling and the intellectual property available to growers and shippers continues to improve. We love success.
