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News RoomNews ReleaseSeptember 10, 2002 CONTACT:
Fall Raspberries: One Last Taste of SummerAs Autumn persistently nudges Summer from our region, we can hold on to the flavor of the warmer season just a little longer by enjoying late-season raspberries. Usually thought of as a summer fruit, raspberries are still available throughout early Fall, according to the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association. "We harvest raspberries until the first hard freeze," explains Phyllis Tougas of Tougas Family Farm in Northborough. Tougas points out that raspberries are not only great fresh, but you can also preserve this taste of summer in jams and jellies and by freezing them. Select berries that have a deep, rich color. Use berries as soon as possible, but if you must store them, refrigerate in a container that allows for air circulation to help prevent mold and rinse the berries just before you are ready to use them. To freeze berries, spread them out on a cookie sheet in the freezer to prevent them from sticking together. Then, when frozen, berries can be placed in a plastic bag and stored in the freezer. Jams, jellies and preserves are a more traditional method of preserving summer berries. Jams are made from crushed fruit whereas jelly is made from fruit juice. Preserves are made from whole fruit or large pieces of fruit floating in thick syrup. Canning instructions, provided in many cookbooks or by canning jar manufacturers, should be followed carefully to prevent spoilage. "If you don't have time to can your own, many local farmstands and farmers' markets offer a selection of jams and preserves, as well as baked goods and fresh produce," says John Kelly, president of the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association. "In addition to single-fruit jams, many farmstands also offer jams made from some very tasty combinations of fruit such as raspberry-peach and cranberry-blueberry." Nearly 140 Massachusetts farms produce some 179,000 pounds of raspberries on 136 acres each year. To find a Massachusetts berry grower, farmstand or farmers' market near you, log onto www.mass.gov/massgrown. Experts say that berries provide health benefits along with their wonderful flavor. Raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber. One cup of raspberries provides 40 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, 32 percent of the recommended daily value of fiber, and10 percent of the recommended daily value of folic acid. Raspberries are fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free. "Raspberries are best when they are locally grown," says Douglas P. Gillespie, Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture. "They're a delicate fruit that's best freshly picked and you can't get any fresher than raspberries that were just picked at a nearby farm."
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This release is issued in cooperation with the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association  |
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