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Tasmanian raspberries and blackberries hit local shelves!
Fruit Growers Tasmania | Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 9.00am
The Tasmanian raspberry and blackberry season is ramping up with locally grown fruit hitting shelves around the state. Keep an eye out for sweet raspberries and juicy blackberries on your next visit to the local store.
Tasmania is the largest producer of raspberries and blackberries in Australia, producing over 5,000 tonnes across the season. That’s around 1 billion berries!
Tasmania’s climate is perfect for growing raspberries and blackberries, where the cooler season produces delicious large, sweet fruit.
This year’s harvest season started slightly later than last year due to a cool spring period but there looks to be a bumper crop coming through now.
Andrew Griggs runs Lucaston Park Orchards in the heart of the Huon Valley, he said “Tasmania’s cool climate produces some of the best tasting raspberries which develop flavour through the long growing season. Berries are hand picked and transported directly to market, so you know you are getting the freshest fruit possible.”
Tasmanian raspberries and blackberries are available from November through to May, where the harvest season complements production in New South Wales and Queensland. This nationwide distribution allows year round availability of fruit for customers.
Fruit Growers Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish said “Tasmania produces top raspberries and blackberries! We have some of the best growing conditions anywhere in the world which allows us to supply over half of Australia’s fresh raspberry and blackberry production.”
Each season Tasmania’s fruit industry employs over 10,000 people and produces over $325 million worth of fruit.
Peter added “Keep a look out for fresh new season berries in supermarkets, independent retailers, and farmers markets or visit your local pick your own farm. Berries are delicious and a great healthy snack any time of the day. They are also perfect in lunchboxes, as part of a picnic or to top desserts in the leadup to Christmas.
“Tasmanian strawberries are already on shelves, and you can look forward to local blueberries and cherries becoming available over the coming weeks. You just can’t beat a Tassie summer for the best tasting fresh local produce!”
