In the cool, marine climate of the Pacific Northwest, Washington produces approximately 90 percent of the nation’s frozen red raspberry crop. By freezing raspberries within hours of being picked at the peak of ripeness, Washington raspberry producers preserve the fruit’s integrity, flavor and nutrition value, so you can enjoy this delicious and nutritious fruit year-round. Truly America’s raspberries, Washington Red Raspberries can be purchased through suppliers listed here: www.red-raspberry.org/suppliers.
The Washington Red Raspberry Commission (WRRC) was formed in 1976 to support and promote the raspberry industry. The Commission operates programs that facilitate cultural and harvesting improvements, as well as regulates unfair trade practices within the industry. Also, the Commission establishes promotion plans and conducts programs for advertising, sales, promotion, and/or other programs for maintaining present markets and/or creating new or larger markets for raspberries, and it provides for research in the production and processing of raspberries.
There are over 40 different suppliers of red raspberry products who comprise the Washington Red Raspberry Commission. Each company is committed to growing, harvesting and processing the highest quality berries in the world, and meeting the most stringent quality standards on the planet. These growers and processors are spread throughout southern Canada, the western part of Washington state and northern Oregon.
Growing, harvesting and freezing raspberries is a little bit more complex than driving a tractor. Get an inside look into how raspberry farmers deal with Mother Nature’s challenges and embrace the latest science to harvest peak-of-ripeness fruit; freeze it within hours to lock-in flavor and nutrients; and deliver a safe, high quality food. There’s definitely an artistry to it!
