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How raspberries grow: from pollination to harvest
Friday, 16th of February 2024
The very best raspberries don’t just grow on any raspberry bush. In fact, the raspberries you find in your Beekers Berries container grow exclusively on the unique Sapphire® raspberry plants.
After years of testing and cultivation, Beekers Berries has found the extraordinarily sweet, flavourful, soft, and beautiful raspberry that meets Beekers quality. It does require some patience, but thanks to our passion for nature and cultivation, we enjoy every moment. We are pleased to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the tastiest raspberries are grown. Will you join us?

A green oasis
Welcome to our raspberry tunnel! We find ourselves in a green oasis. The scent of deliciously summery, sweet raspberries greets you. You might expect to see beautiful, pink raspberries all around, but the fruits can be seen in many shapes and colours simultaneously. From brownish and ‘hairy’ to shiny and yellow. However they disguise themselves, these budding fruits will all develop into the delicious raspberries you know from us. And here’s how that happens:

1 - The flowers and the bees
Every raspberry starts as a flower. The bees from the local beekeeper and bumblebees take care of the pollination of the flowers. The raspberry flowers become very attractive to bees and bumblebees because they produce a lot of sweet nectar. Did you know that the nectar of raspberry bushes is even sweeter than that of a strawberry plant? Because our flying friends love visiting raspberry flowers so much, some pollen from the stamens often gets onto the insects. When the insects visit the next flower, this pollen can land on the pistil of that flower. Pollination has occurred!

2 - The ovary
Once the flower has been pollinated, the fruit will start to grow. The ovary, to which the stamens are attached, will begin to swell. If you look closely, you can already see some features of the future raspberry. For example, you can see that the stamens will later become the ‘hairs’ of the raspberry. The ovary starts out light green, but as it swells, its colour will change.
3 – Brown berries
About two weeks later, the ovary has turned into a small ‘hairy’ berry. The pointed shape of the conical Sapphire® raspberry is slowly beginning to show, as are the drupelets; the juicy little balls that make up the raspberry. The brownish fruits change colour with the help of the sun to the next colour stage.

4 - Yellow and shiny
From this point, the fruits are already recognisable as raspberries. Shiny and large, they glitter on the plants. However, they are still yellow raspberries and not yet tasty. At this stage, the berries are still too hard to eat. But don’t worry; the end is in sight!
5 – Ready for harvest
About 4 to 5 days later, the raspberry is ripe! The colour is deep pink-red and the texture is silky soft. You can’t miss the delicious sweet smell, and you know that the taste of summer is within reach. A gentle picking method is essential to bring this delicate, soft fruit to the lover with love and care. The raspberry is gently guided off the stem. A well-ripened raspberry needs little help and falls easily into the hand.
Ready for the taste sensation?
Hand-picked one by one, the raspberries are placed into the Beekers Berries containers, ready for sale. From the plant to your hand! Are you ready for the taste sensation?

Quiz question: Do you know why a raspberry is hollow?
When we pick raspberries, the stem, around which the raspberry grows, remains on the plant. The stem, also known as the flower base, is not edible. That’s why we pick the raspberry this way. This is in contrast to the strawberry, whose flower base remains attached to the fruit when picked. In the case of the strawberry, the flower base is edible and is hidden in the middle of the berry.
Tastes like more?
In addition to the raspberry, our Beekers Berries collection includes strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, redcurrants, and specialties. These are grown with warmth, respect, love, and expertise so that you can fully enjoy our soft fruits all year round.
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Recipes with raspberries
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