Description: A member of the rose family, raspberries have a wonderfully intense, sweet taste, and many consider them to be the finest flavoured of all the berries.
Raspberries are small, aggregate fruits that generally average 1 to 3 centimetres in diameter and have a round, oval, to oblong shape. Despite the fruits resembling berries, Raspberries are developed from tiny round drupelets that fuse together to create a solid but bumpy, textured, and bubbled appearance. Each clustered section, or drupelet, contains fine hairs, seeds, and juice, growing over a spongy core that remains with the plant once the fruit is picked. The fruit’s flesh is also typically soft, tender, juicy, and mildly crunchy as the drupelets encase 100 to 120 seeds in totality. There are many types of Raspberries appearing in hues of red, black, gold, and purple. When harvested, the fruits detach from the central core creating the signature hollow cavity. Raspberries have a bright and tangy, sweet-tart flavor, with earthy, jammy, and mouth-puckering nuances..
Health Benefits:
1. Raspberries have lots of nutrients
One cup of raspberries provides over 50% of the minimum daily target for vitamin C, which supports immunity and skin health and helps produce collagen. Raspberries also contain manganese and vitamin K, which both play a role in bone health. And they supply smaller amounts of vitamin E, B vitamins, magnesium, copper, iron, and potassium.
2. They’re low in sugar
Raspberries are also one of the lowest-sugar fruits, at just 5 grams per cup fresh, compared to about 20 grams in one medium apple. This makes them a great option for anyone with a sweet tooth who wants to minimize their overall sugar intake.
3. They’re rich in anti-aging antioxidants
Raspberries are antioxidant powerhouses. These health-protective compounds have been tied to lower rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Raspberry antioxidants also help reduce inflammation, a known trigger of premature aging. The natural protective substances in raspberries are also linked to better DNA repair and blocking enzymes that trigger arthritis pain.
4. They can protect you from cancer
Raspberry antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds are associated with cancer protection by reducing the reproduction of cancer cells. However, research also shows that the phytonutrients in raspberries, such as ellagitannins, may actually help kill cancer cells by signalling apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
5. Raspberries are high in fibre
A cup of raspberries packs an impressive 8 grams of dietary fibre, a third of the daily minimum goal. This high-fibre content also reduces raspberries’ net carb content to about 7 grams per cup (since our bodies aren’t capable of digesting and absorbing fibre). That fibre also contributes to fullness, blunts blood sugar by slowing digestion, and supports good digestive health. Raspberry fibre also helps beneficial gut bacteria flourish. The latter are linked to stronger immunity and a more positive mood.
5. Raspberries sharpen your brain and memory
Raspberries help counter oxidative stress, which is essentially an imbalance between the production of cell-damaging free radicals and the body’s ability to fight off their harmful effects. Because oxidative stress is a causative factor in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, raspberries are a top brain-supporting food. The flavonoids in berries have also been shown to help improve coordination, memory, and mood. And berries help with general brain “housekeeping” by clearing out toxic proteins tied to brain dysfunction.
Locations of harvest:
Time period of Harvest:
Harvest Process: With field-grown summer-bearing raspberries, the first significant crop is usually obtained during the third year after planting. At maturity (about four years old), field plantings of red raspberries should produce about 5,000 pounds of fruit per acre, though not all will be harvested in pick-your-own fields. Black raspberry yields are about half those of red raspberries. Raspberries must be firm, well coloured, and free of insects and rot for market. If harvested at the proper time and handled carefully, raspberries will remain in good condition for several days. Because the fruit is fragile, it should be picked and packed directly into containers without further sorting. Pickers must be closely supervised and instructed to harvest only high-quality fruit. The fruit should be harvested at least once every three days, with adjustments made to the picking schedule based on weather conditions.
Freeze Drying Process: The freeze-drying process is done through sublimation. It is done by first freezing fruit and then putting it under vacuum pressures. This will then cause the ice crystals to elevate, turning them from solid ice into steam quickly. This process will remove water much more efficiently than old-fashioned drying. The fruit’s water content and nutritional value are condensed and preserved without affecting the fruit’s structure. This makes this technique of preserving food mainly suited to soft fruits which are relatively low on sugar. Once the raspberries have been freeze-dried, it is then shredded into chunks that are sized at 2-5mm.