Raspberry Facts
Nutrition
Raspberries are a very healthy food that is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Calcium and Potassium. They do not have fat, cholesterol or sodium.
Always check this website or call before you go to the farm - Raspberries are affected by weather (especially rain and cooler temperatures) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean early in the day.
How to Pick Raspberries
Gently grasp the berry with your fingers and thumb, and gently pull.
If it is ripe, it will easily come off in your hand, leaving the center part attached to the stem.
Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.
Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.
How to tell if they are ripe
Select plump, firm, fully red berries.
Unripe berries will not ripen once picked. When ripe, they separate easily from the core which remains attached to the plant. If you must pull hard to remove the berry or it remains attached to its core, it is not ripe!
Tips
Raspberries will mold in a short time when left at room temperature, and they only last a couple of days in the refrigerator. Berries should be refrigerated as soon as possible.
DO NOT wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing them makes them spoil faster
Containers for picking
We furnish picking containers designed for Raspberries at no extra charge. If you return to pick another time it would be appreciated if you bring the containers back to use again.
If you fill the containers to high or try to pack the berries, they will smash the ones in the bottom. Store berries in shallow pans and remove any mashed, soft or rotting berries
General Picking Tips
Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest. The plants don't have thorns, but they do have little tiny stickers that can scratch your skin. The berries stand out from the rest of the plant, so it's not hard to avoid contact. Try not to leave the picked berries in the sunshine any longer than necessary.
Freezing Raspberries
After rinsing your berries, lay them out on a paper towel to dry COMPLETELY. The best way to freeze them is to place your berries on a cookie sheet so that they are not touching and place the whole cookie sheet in the freezer. They will freeze individually very quickly. You can then toss the lot into a freezer bag or container for longer storage. If you just place the fresh berries into a freezer bag and then freeze, they will clump together as mush. Raspberries can stay in the freezer for a year without getting freezer burn. What a great treat to enjoy in the middle of winter.
