Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
Red raspberries are a widely grown bramble fruit in New York on over 450 acres, producing ~1.1M lbs annually, primarily for fresh market. Suitable for Zones 4-8with well-drained acidic soil; floricane and primocane types extend harvest.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- early spring – early spring
- Harvest
- late June-August (floricane); late summer-fall (primocane) – late June-August (floricane); late summer-fall (primocane)
Yield
- Typical yield
- 3 tons/acre or lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 10 years
- Years to full prod.
- 2
- Labor
- 80 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price stable over past 3 years
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Stable market outlook
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (4.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free requirement not specified; crop documented as viable in region
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (800+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure
Storage Available
Cold storage needed; may require investment
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Equipment Requirements
planting
General purpose tractor for site prep, mowing, and spraying. Fixed cost shared across all small fruit operations.
For initial soil preparation. Till 8-12 inches deep before planting. Can be PTO-driven or walk-behind for small acreages.
Per-acre cost for T-trellis or V-trellis system. Essential for managing plant growth, improving fruit quality, and facilitating harvest. Wooden or metal posts with 2-3 wires.
irrigation
Per-acre cost including mainline, laterals, emitters, and timer. 00-,000/acre depending on water source and automation level. Essential for consistent fruit quality.
spraying
PTO-driven airblast sprayer for larger plantings. Backpack sprayer adequate for under 1 acre. Critical for SWD and disease management programs.
cultivation
For maintaining row middles and managing vegetation. PTO-driven, shared across farm operations.
harvesting
Annual cost for picking containers. Use shallow trays (half-pints or smaller) so fruit is maximum 3 deep. Hand harvest is standard for fresh market raspberries.
post_harvest
Pre-cool fruit to 32-34F immediately after harvest. Critical for extending shelf life from hours to 2-3 days. Walk-in cooler with fans adequate for small operations.
Storage Requirements
Fresh cold storage
Temperature
32–34°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
7 days
Modified atmosphere (15-20% CO2)
Temperature
32–34°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
14 days
Frozen (IQF)
Temperature
-10–0°F
Max Storage
365 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Revenue data insufficient to evaluate
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($4,000/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 2 years; acceptable payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Labor-intensive; revenue per labor hour may be modest
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $5/$/lb |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $15,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $4,000/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $10,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | $5,000/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $5,000 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | $188 |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: Penn State Extension Agricultural Alternatives: Raspberry Production; Cornell Berry Budgets (NY 2014). Price reflects u-pick/direct-marketing channel — wholesale raspberry pricing differs materially from u-pick. (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Moderate pest/disease pressure; manageable with available methods
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning
Climate Resilient
Moderate climate resilience for the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
disease
Fungal disease causing purple-brown lesions on canes, reducing vigor and yield. Common in humid Northeast climates.
Fungal disease causing chocolate-brown lesions on canes at leaf nodes. Weakens canes and reduces fruit quality.
Soil-borne water mold causing root and crown rot. Raspberries are highly susceptible, especially in poorly drained soils. Can kill entire plantings.
pest
Invasive fruit fly that lays eggs in ripening soft fruit. A growing and severe threat across the Northeast, causing direct fruit damage and contamination.
Small beetle larvae feed inside fruit, causing wormy berries. More of a quality issue than a yield issue.
Defoliates plants by skeletonizing leaves. Adults active June through August in the growing region.
climate
Raspberry canes can suffer winter damage in Zones 5b-6b, especially during open winters without snow cover. Affects primocane varieties less than floricane types.
market
Fresh raspberries have extremely short shelf life (2-3 days at room temperature). Requires rapid cooling and sale within days of harvest.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Raspberry against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
67 tracked changes across 9 data categories