‘Superfood’ crop hits appetite for raspberries
THEY have long been renowned around the world for their flavour.
But Scotland’s raspberries are under threat as growers switch to producing ‘healthier’ blueberries, experts have claimed.
It has prompted fears that the raspberry could soon be in decline as demand dries up, prices fall and crops are hit by disease.
Blueberries have already overtaken raspberries as the second most popular berry on the market – behind strawberries.
Nikki Jennings, a raspberry breeder for the James Hutton institute in Dundee, confirmed that an increasing number of growers were switching production.
She said: ‘It seems to be the case that blueberries have taken over from raspberries.
‘There is an increased demand from consumers for blueberries because of perceived health benefits and their reputation as a superfood. From the growers’ side, raspberries are costly to produce and price has been so low of late they are not making much money, so they haven’t replanted their raspberries and have gone instead with blueberries and cherries.’
Recent raspberry crops have been hit by a root rot, which can kill whole rows of the plants.
The James Hutton Institute is researching ways to breed disease-resistant plants, but it can taken more than 15 years to produce a new variety.
Ross Mitchell, a strawberry and raspberry farmer in Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, said raspberries used to account for 20 per cent of his crop, but this is now down to 5 per cent. He said: ‘The sales growth of blueberries has been phenomenal. It’s partly because of the health benefits – because it’s known as a superfood it’s a fantastic fruit that people want to eat and it’s also great to grow.
‘There have been a number of issues putting people off the market. Prices have been depressed the last couple of years in particular. It’s an issue we’re battling.’
Rowan Marshall, of Peter Marshall Farms, near Blairgowrie in Perthshire, said: ‘Sales of blueberries are jumping every year and we don’t want to keep all our eggs in one basket by just growing raspberries.’
A recent US study showed that blueberries appear to help ward off diabetes. A Harvard University team found people who ate three servings of the fruit a week had a 26 per cent lower chance of developing the disease.