Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, July 20, 2007

Montpelier, Vt – It’s summer in Vermont and the raspberries are in season! Farmers’ markets, farm stands and pick-your-own fields are brimming with exceptionally sweet, ripe berries.

“There was some concern that the heavy rains we have had in the past few weeks may have hurt the raspberry, and other fruit crops,” said Anson Tebbetts, Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. “However, growers are reporting excellent yields of beautiful berries. The only concern is that the wet weather is keeping people from picking berries.”

Ron Blair of Blair’s Berry Farm, Rochester, VT commented that this is the best year for raspberries he’s seen in ten years and that there are a lot of berries ready to be picked.

Raspberries aren’t only sweet and delicious, but are an excellent source of vitamin C, Folic Acid and fiber. Raspberries are ready to pick when they easily separate from the receptacle or core. Raspberries are extremely perishable. To maintain freshness and quality, place fruit in shallow containers no more than three fruit deep and cool quickly. Store in the refrigerator for longest life.

According to Vern Grubinger of UVM Extension, there are 80 farms in Vermont that grow raspberries, contributing more than $9 million in sales of fruits and berries statewide. “There are some new varieties of berries planted over the past several years that have helped extend the length of the harvest season,” said Grubinger. The average harvest time for raspberries is mid-July through September.

“This is a great time to take the family out to enjoy the Vermont countryside and pick fresh raspberries and meet the farmers in Vermont who work hard to produce the highest quality items,” commented Roger Allbee, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. “When you buy local you are supporting your local farmers and the local community.”