Raspberry

The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus. Raspberries are perennial with woody stems. World production of raspberries in 2020 was 895,771 tonnes, led by Russia with 20% of the total. Raspberries are cultivated for the fresh fruit market as well as for industrial processing into individually fast frozen (IQF) fruit, purée, juice, or dried fruit used in a range of food products, including raspberry pie.

An individual raspberry weighs 3–5 g and is made up of around 100 drupelets, each of which consists of a juicy pulp and a single central seed. A raspberry bush can yield several hundred berries a year. Raspberries require plenty of sunlight and moisture for optimum growth. Raspberries grow best on soil that drains well, has a pH between 6 and 7, and has a lot of organic matter to help retain moisture. Although moisture is necessary, heavy, wet soils or excessive irrigation can cause Phytophthora root rot, one of the most serious pest issues the red raspberry faces.