Picked at the peak of ripeness, red raspberries grown for processing are frozen within hours of harvest to capture the fruit’s sensory and nutrient integrity. The familiar and beloved red raspberry offers unique opportunities for bakers and other food manufacturers to add visual interest, sweet-tart flavor, superior nutrition profile and an overall premium in baked goods and snacks.
In a consumer attitude and usage study among 758 primary grocery shoppers conducted by the National Processed Raspberry Council (NPRC) in late 2014, respondents specifically mentioned liking the flavor of red raspberries. Four-fifths wished they could find more food items in the grocery story that are made with raspberries. Muffins and ice cream are the two items mentioned most often, but there is also a desire for more raspberry-rich salad dressings, jams, cakes, pies, cookies, salads, desserts and sauces. In a call to action, 59 percent of those surveyed responded they are very or extremely likely to purchase packaged and fresh baked good with raspberries.