2012 will go down as the year that raspberry growers wish didn’t happen. It was a difficult year for the raspberry growers because of the cold wet spring and the untimely heavy rains in early Summer. All of these cold, wet days put a damper on the quality and yield of the raspberry crop. It was raining during pollination, it was raining during the first harvest, and then it rained again during peak harvest.
However, there were enough sunny warm days throughout the season, with that a great raspberry crop was harvested. It is during a year like this that our growers are most appreciative of our supporters and customers. A great shout out for all who supported our local raspberry growers. Thank you for buying local raspberries. We at the Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC) wish you a great Winter and successful 2013. See you next year!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Local BC Raspberry Industry Films Launched
The Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC)
is thrilled to announce the launch of our two short films we produced about the
raspberry industry in British Columbia. The purpose of these two films is to
showcase the fresh market as well as the processing side in particular. We
wanted to share the stories of our successful industry as well as educate the
public about our growers, processors as well as our perfect location to grow
raspberries.
More than 85% of Canada's red raspberries are grown in Abbotsford, on just 3,000 acres. Fraser Valley growers harvest over 12 million kilograms of the finest quality raspberries each year for shipment across Canada and around the world.
There are over 20 raspberry growers in the Fraser Valley who only produced raspberries for a predominantly fresh market and this film tells their story of how it’s important to support local growers.
There are over 165 raspberry growers in the Fraser Valley who produce raspberries for the processing market. These berries send to processors where they are are frozen as Individually Quick Frozen (IQF), sieved, pureed, made into juice concentrates or wine. These products are sold globally. This film tells the story of how the raspberry starts with a grower to how it goes to the processing plant.
More than 85% of Canada's red raspberries are grown in Abbotsford, on just 3,000 acres. Fraser Valley growers harvest over 12 million kilograms of the finest quality raspberries each year for shipment across Canada and around the world.
There are over 20 raspberry growers in the Fraser Valley who only produced raspberries for a predominantly fresh market and this film tells their story of how it’s important to support local growers.
There are over 165 raspberry growers in the Fraser Valley who produce raspberries for the processing market. These berries send to processors where they are are frozen as Individually Quick Frozen (IQF), sieved, pureed, made into juice concentrates or wine. These products are sold globally. This film tells the story of how the raspberry starts with a grower to how it goes to the processing plant.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Local BC Raspberries Available in the Fall
You may think that raspberries are only a Summer fruit but there is a Fall variety that blooms in the Fraser Valley called Heritage. It's a standard fall fruiting variety. The canes are very vigorous, hardy and sturdy. The plant produces many suckers which spread out far and wide. The fruit is medium-large, attractive and has a lovely flavour. It's firm and has a great shelf life. This variety is recommended for mild coastal areas to extend the fresh fruit market season from September to first frost.
If you are craving these yummy raspberries, you can purchase them at Krause Berry Farms as well as pick them fresh at Maan Farms as well. For larger deliveries you can contact Berry Haven Farms as well.
We wanted to share this recipe below with you so you can enjoy our local BC Fall bounty!
If you are craving these yummy raspberries, you can purchase them at Krause Berry Farms as well as pick them fresh at Maan Farms as well. For larger deliveries you can contact Berry Haven Farms as well.
We wanted to share this recipe below with you so you can enjoy our local BC Fall bounty!
| Double BC Raspberry Mousse in Chocolate Stripe Tulip cups - serves 12 |
|
|---|---|
| Chocolate Stripe Tulip cups - 12-14 cups | |
| 2/3 cup | sugar |
| ½ cup | all-purpose flour |
| 1-1 ½ tsp. | grated orange zest |
| 1 | whole egg |
| 2 | egg whites |
| ½ tsp. | vanilla extract |
| 4 Tbsp | unsalted butter, melted |
| 1 Tbsp. | melted chocolate |
 In
a medium bowl, combine the sugar, flour, orange zest, whole egg, egg
whites and vanilla. Beast with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Stir in
the butter and 1 tablespoon of water; the batter will be thin.Set aside ¼ cup of the batter and mix it with 1 tbsp of melted chocolate. This mixture will be used for the stripes. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Butter a large cookie sheet. Drop 4 separate tablespoons of the batter onto the sheet. Using the back of a spoon spread into 4-inch circles, spaced about 1 inch apart. Using a turkey baster, add chocolate stripes lengthwise and crosswise over the 4-inch circles. Bake in the bottom third of the oven until the cookies have a golden-brown border about 1 inch wide, 6-8 minutes. Meanwhile, cut 4 pieces of aluminium foil, each 4 inches square and set 4 narrow glasses or jars bottom-side up on the work surface. Remove the cookies from the oven. Working quickly, scrape a cookie from the sheet with a wide spatula and invert it over the jar. Cover with a square of foil to protect your hands and mould the soft hot cookie into a tulip shape. Repeat with the remaining cookies. As soon as they are set, remove the shaped tulip cups from their moulds and set aside. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until all the batter is used. | |
Friday, September 14, 2012
Raspberry Growers Attend International Raspberry Organization Conference (IRO) in Abbotsford
In June, Raspberry growers from all over the world gathered in Abbotsford, BC - the raspberry capital of Canada to discuss the state of the raspberry industry and how we can make cooperative steps to build the industry worldwide. Day 1 of the conference featured presentations by all member countries that reported their recent and anticipated production volumes, predominate varieties being grown, and recent production and market trends as well as challenges facing each nation.
The WRRC has posted the presentations here.
A common goal for all raspberry growers is to improve our ability to build a market for raspberries. There are numerous examples of how other fruits have build a strong taste, a nutrition story and told that story well in order to increase production. We have a good product and have made some great investments in documenting the health benefits.
The International Raspberry Organization Conference (IRO) is held every two years. The BC Conference was the 8th time the growers came together. The next conference is schedule for 2014 in China.
The WRRC has posted the presentations here.
A common goal for all raspberry growers is to improve our ability to build a market for raspberries. There are numerous examples of how other fruits have build a strong taste, a nutrition story and told that story well in order to increase production. We have a good product and have made some great investments in documenting the health benefits.
The International Raspberry Organization Conference (IRO) is held every two years. The BC Conference was the 8th time the growers came together. The next conference is schedule for 2014 in China.
Friday, August 24, 2012
The Health Benefits of Local BC Berries
There has been a great deal of interest in recent years about the potential health benefits of eating berries. We spoke with Michael Dossett who is a post-doctoral fellow working with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PARC-Agassiz berry breeding program. Here is what he had to say:
I say “potential” because most of it is based on studies done in petri-dishes or using mice or rats as a model. The very first human clinical trials to study the possible health benefits of consumption of berries and their extracts have only started in the last couple of years. While there is still a tremendous amount that we don’t know yet, there is also overwhelming scientific evidence that eating berries has a variety of health benefits.
Consumption of berries has been linked to reduction in many chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, some studies have shown increased consumption of berries to help mitigate or reduce the effects of stress. Some studies have even found potential cancer-fighting properties in our local berries. The potential benefits of eating a diet rich in berries and other fresh foods are too numerous to list here, and the scientific and medical communities are only beginning to scratch the surface in terms of finding out what all of these benefits are.
I often am asked whether we can breed a blueberry or a raspberry with higher antioxidants or increased health-beneficial properties. The simple answer is yes, but the problem is knowing what compounds to focus on, and how much of an increase is needed to really have an effect. Is more actually better, or does it not have any additional benefit beyond a certain concentration that the body can absorb? As I mentioned earlier, we’re only at the beginning of understanding what the effects in humans are. The latest studies indicate that the potential health benefits we see are linked to a variety of compounds that have a variety of effects on the human body. While many of these compounds are also powerful antioxidants, researchers haven’t been able to establish a strong link between the antioxidant capacity of these foods and the observed benefits, so current studies are focusing on other mechanisms.
Another question I am often asked is, “what is the best type of berry or fruit to eat?” With the Superfood craze in the last few years, many people don’t know whether they should be eating raspberries, or strawberries, or cranberries, or blueberries, or pomegranates, or acai, or any of a number of other foods. Often times the latest thing comes out and people try it because it has an exotic name or was the subject of recent study covered by the news media. People often get mixed messages from the media or hear that one thing is good for you without knowing what is best. Fortunately, this question is one that is relatively easy to answer. I tell people to eat their colors. All of these foods are nutritious and they all have different health-promoting compounds, with slightly different effects on the body. The best way to ensure that you get the benefit is to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. The latest recommendations for a healthy diet are that people should be eating 5-10 servings a day of fruits and vegetables.
You are what you eat, and this is food the way nature intended it. Most of these health-promoting compounds are also preserved in frozen fruits as well, and this is a great way to get the benefit of eating our local berries year-round. Heavily processed foods may or may not give you the benefits because every additional step can cause a small loss because of dilution or degradation of these compounds. Next time you are at your local grocery store or market and wondering what you should buy, just remember to eat your colors!
Want to learn more? Here is another great article "Taste the Rainbow"
I say “potential” because most of it is based on studies done in petri-dishes or using mice or rats as a model. The very first human clinical trials to study the possible health benefits of consumption of berries and their extracts have only started in the last couple of years. While there is still a tremendous amount that we don’t know yet, there is also overwhelming scientific evidence that eating berries has a variety of health benefits.
Consumption of berries has been linked to reduction in many chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, some studies have shown increased consumption of berries to help mitigate or reduce the effects of stress. Some studies have even found potential cancer-fighting properties in our local berries. The potential benefits of eating a diet rich in berries and other fresh foods are too numerous to list here, and the scientific and medical communities are only beginning to scratch the surface in terms of finding out what all of these benefits are.
I often am asked whether we can breed a blueberry or a raspberry with higher antioxidants or increased health-beneficial properties. The simple answer is yes, but the problem is knowing what compounds to focus on, and how much of an increase is needed to really have an effect. Is more actually better, or does it not have any additional benefit beyond a certain concentration that the body can absorb? As I mentioned earlier, we’re only at the beginning of understanding what the effects in humans are. The latest studies indicate that the potential health benefits we see are linked to a variety of compounds that have a variety of effects on the human body. While many of these compounds are also powerful antioxidants, researchers haven’t been able to establish a strong link between the antioxidant capacity of these foods and the observed benefits, so current studies are focusing on other mechanisms.
Another question I am often asked is, “what is the best type of berry or fruit to eat?” With the Superfood craze in the last few years, many people don’t know whether they should be eating raspberries, or strawberries, or cranberries, or blueberries, or pomegranates, or acai, or any of a number of other foods. Often times the latest thing comes out and people try it because it has an exotic name or was the subject of recent study covered by the news media. People often get mixed messages from the media or hear that one thing is good for you without knowing what is best. Fortunately, this question is one that is relatively easy to answer. I tell people to eat their colors. All of these foods are nutritious and they all have different health-promoting compounds, with slightly different effects on the body. The best way to ensure that you get the benefit is to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. The latest recommendations for a healthy diet are that people should be eating 5-10 servings a day of fruits and vegetables.
You are what you eat, and this is food the way nature intended it. Most of these health-promoting compounds are also preserved in frozen fruits as well, and this is a great way to get the benefit of eating our local berries year-round. Heavily processed foods may or may not give you the benefits because every additional step can cause a small loss because of dilution or degradation of these compounds. Next time you are at your local grocery store or market and wondering what you should buy, just remember to eat your colors!
Want to learn more? Here is another great article "Taste the Rainbow"
Monday, July 30, 2012
BC Raspberries: Part of a cancer-fighting diet?
Research is suggesting raspberries can prevent and fight certain types of cancer cells in addition to having antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Nearly everyone likes raspberries, and fortunately the little drupelets have something good going for them health-wise too. A good source of Vitamin C and dietary fibre, raspberries are also recognized for their abundant phytochemicals.
Research has identified the phytochemical ellagic acid, a compound present in high amounts in raspberries, as a potentially potent anti-carcinogen. Red raspberries are shown to be the leading source of ellagic acid.
Much like an oxygen free radical, ellagic acid scavenges, looking to bind with cancer causing chemicals, rendering them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. In addition, current animal studies indicate that ellagic acid from red raspberries prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA, and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.
Nine years of study have shown that ellagic acid causes G1-arrest of cancer cells within 48 hours (inhibiting and stopping mitosis-cancer cell division), and apoptosis (normal cell death) within 72 hours, for breast, pancreas, esophageal, skin, colon and prostate cancer cells.
Clinical test also show that ellagic acid prevents the destruction of the p53 gene by cancer cells.
Healthy human cells have a normal life cycle. This process concludes with what is called apoptosis (natural cell death). The body replaces these dying cells with healthy ones; conversely, cancer cells do not die. They rapidly multiply by cell division (mitosis) making 2 cancer cells, then 4, 8, 16, 32 and so on. In lab and recent clinical studies, ellagic acid caused the cancer cells to go through a nontoxic, normal apoptosis process without damaging the healthy cells.
European medical studies also demonstrate that ellagic acid is know to lower the incidence of birth defects, promote wound healing, reduce heart disease and may reduce heart disease and may reduce or reverse chemically induce liver fibrosis.
Australian scientists have recently reported that raspberry cordial (a stimulating medicine or drink) and juice had antibacterial activity, significantly reducing the growth of several pathogenic species of bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli under laboratory conditions.
Australian cattle and livestock farms routinely use raspberry cordial to prevent gastric outburst in their animals. Apparently when their cows start to develop gastroenteritis, instead of calling the vet, farmers just tip a couple of litres of raspberry cordial in the trough. One farmer interviewed in a study claims the mortality in his animals dropped from 40 per cent to zero by using cordial.
Nearly everyone likes raspberries, and fortunately the little drupelets have something good going for them health-wise too. A good source of Vitamin C and dietary fibre, raspberries are also recognized for their abundant phytochemicals.
Research has identified the phytochemical ellagic acid, a compound present in high amounts in raspberries, as a potentially potent anti-carcinogen. Red raspberries are shown to be the leading source of ellagic acid.
Much like an oxygen free radical, ellagic acid scavenges, looking to bind with cancer causing chemicals, rendering them inactive. It inhibits the ability of other chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. In addition, current animal studies indicate that ellagic acid from red raspberries prevents binding of carcinogens to DNA, and reduces the incidence of cancer in cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens.
Nine years of study have shown that ellagic acid causes G1-arrest of cancer cells within 48 hours (inhibiting and stopping mitosis-cancer cell division), and apoptosis (normal cell death) within 72 hours, for breast, pancreas, esophageal, skin, colon and prostate cancer cells.
Clinical test also show that ellagic acid prevents the destruction of the p53 gene by cancer cells.
Healthy human cells have a normal life cycle. This process concludes with what is called apoptosis (natural cell death). The body replaces these dying cells with healthy ones; conversely, cancer cells do not die. They rapidly multiply by cell division (mitosis) making 2 cancer cells, then 4, 8, 16, 32 and so on. In lab and recent clinical studies, ellagic acid caused the cancer cells to go through a nontoxic, normal apoptosis process without damaging the healthy cells.
European medical studies also demonstrate that ellagic acid is know to lower the incidence of birth defects, promote wound healing, reduce heart disease and may reduce heart disease and may reduce or reverse chemically induce liver fibrosis.
Australian scientists have recently reported that raspberry cordial (a stimulating medicine or drink) and juice had antibacterial activity, significantly reducing the growth of several pathogenic species of bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli under laboratory conditions.
Australian cattle and livestock farms routinely use raspberry cordial to prevent gastric outburst in their animals. Apparently when their cows start to develop gastroenteritis, instead of calling the vet, farmers just tip a couple of litres of raspberry cordial in the trough. One farmer interviewed in a study claims the mortality in his animals dropped from 40 per cent to zero by using cordial.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Strong Raspberry Industry in British Columbia
Did you know that B.C. is the largest raspberry producer in Canada? About 12 million kilograms annually is produced on just 5,000 acres of farmland. Only three percent of raspberries are sold fresh and the rest are processed into jams, jellies, drinks, canned and frozen retail and wholesale packs and bakery product.
The Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC) is supported by a ½ ¢ per pound levy on all fresh raspberries grown in BC. The Executive and Directors of the RIDC include producers as well as a processor (1) and a government representative.
The mandate of the Council is to promote raspberries and their use by providing information and educational services to as well as to link purchasers with producers and the Council also generically promotes raspberries with information about the industry to the public and other interested parties.
We are excited to share more about the raspberry industry on our blog and to educate the public about how wonderful raspberries are especially the ones grown in the Fraser Valley. Please help support our industry!
The Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC) is supported by a ½ ¢ per pound levy on all fresh raspberries grown in BC. The Executive and Directors of the RIDC include producers as well as a processor (1) and a government representative.
The mandate of the Council is to promote raspberries and their use by providing information and educational services to as well as to link purchasers with producers and the Council also generically promotes raspberries with information about the industry to the public and other interested parties.
We are excited to share more about the raspberry industry on our blog and to educate the public about how wonderful raspberries are especially the ones grown in the Fraser Valley. Please help support our industry!
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