UNITED STATES—We’ve discussed blueberries and strawberries, but there is another member of the berry family we have yet to talk about, the raspberry. How can one best sum up the raspberry? It’s a small red, cone shaped fruit. Its tart, not as sweet, but it’s a great snack on the go for children and adults alike. For those of us who are lucky, you may have come across golden raspberries in your lifetime. There is no difference in taste, just a more vibrant color that pops.
The pint size fruit is a big source of vitamin C, with about 30mg from a cup of raspberries. It’s also a great source of manganese and calcium. For those not aware, raspberries contain a low glycemic index, which allows you to indulge in the fruit more often. The fruit also contains salicylic acid which is used as an anti-acne treatment. So if you’re seeing outbreaks of acne on your face, a cup of raspberries could help with decreasing that flare-up.
The raspberry similar to the blueberry contains a dye that if gotten onto your clothes or fingers could be hard to clean. The shelf life for a raspberry is not more than a few days in the fridge, so in my recommendation it’s a fruit that is better purchased frozen. With frozen raspberries you can use them in desserts or drinks at your disposal versus having to use the fruit before it gets old.
Cooking tip: raspberries are great to use for jams or a glaze with pork or chicken. It’s also a nice addition, to oatmeal, smoothies, salads and plain yogurt.
By LaDale Anderson
