A World of Raspberries

Raspberries have been a favorite fruit all over the world since the beginning of time. I love raspberries and blackberries, and all their other berry cousins.

Archeologists have found evidence of people eating raspberries for over 20,000 years, since the Paleolithic times. The scientific name Rubus idaeus for the European variety originates from Mount Ida in Greece or Turkey, where ancient peoples gathered them. Formal cultivation began with the Romans in the 4th century. European raspberries, though eaten and grown in the wild for millennia, were not cultivated for mass production until about 400 years ago. Separate red and black varieties grew simultaneously in North America and were widely eaten by the indigenous peoples of North America long before the Europeans arrived. Though they are similar, they are actually 2 separate species. The European red raspberry is derived from the wild red raspberry of Europe, Rubus idaeus and the American red raspberry, was the cultivated form of the American red raspberry, R. idaeus strigosus, which also includes the black raspberry, or blackcap, sometimes called the thimbleberry, also a cultivated native, R. occidentalis and the purple-cane raspberries, which are hybrids between varieties of the two reds and the black raspberry.

Raspberries are members of the rose family, along with apples, pears, almonds, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, strawberries, blackberries, and of course, roses themselves. The word “berry” is part of their name, but in scientific terms, they are not really a berry at all. They are drupelets. Botanically speaking, berries are fruits that come from a single ovary. Raspberries are an aggregate, coming from a single flower with anywhere from 50 to 150 ovaries, each making a separate small drupelet. These drupelets are clustered together, each with its own seed, to form a raspberry.

Raspberries, and all their drupelet relatives are very healthy and nutritious. They are loaded with Vitamin C, potassium, are low in sugar and calories and high in fiber, as well being full of antioxidants that help support multiple body systems and organs—most notably the heart, brain, gut, and pancreas. They have been used for medicinal purposes throughout the ages, and were even given to pregnant women to help ease labor pains when giving birth. Raspberries, along with blueberries and strawberries, are the top three healthiest berries. They have been used in tonics and teas to help treat all kinds of ailments through the ages.

The berry juices were also used in Medieval arts to help make the colors used for painting, as well as for the inks used for writing and as a dyes used for fabrics. Raspberries and berries in general appeared in many works of early art. It is said they represented kindness, and “their red color was associated with ideas of energy and nutrition” (p. 109 -The Story of Food, An Illustrated History of Everything We Eat).

There are over 200 different varieties of raspberries, and they come in colors ranging from bright gold to red to black or purple and everything in between. They also come in many different sizes, from tiny to huge. I love them all. We have tiny wild raspberries that grow in our yard. They are super sweet and delicious. Unlike many other “fruits” they do not continue to ripen after they have been picked, so eat them quickly after you pick them, or freeze and preserve them for later use.

Raspberries and their drupelet cousins are grown all over the world, in areas with mild climates. The top producers are Russia, Poland and the United States, specifically Washington, Oregon and California. Washington grows over 90% or 60 million lbs per year for the United States.

Be healthy and berry up. You’ll be “berry” happy you did too, one berry or drupelet at a time. Have a great day and make everyday great. Life is short. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. ‘Til next time.