Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure
6.23.
Ripe strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries as presented in the market in the
United States. (Courtesy of A. Conklin, Jr.)
different in their size, shape, and morphology. Cranberry vines are used to plant
production areas and take several years to start production. Once producing, berry
production may continue for 100 years or more.
In temperate regions strawberry plantings are made from young plants, which
produce runners that produce new plants, and the planting produces berries for about
5 years before needing to be replanted, which does not occur in the same field until
the land has “rested” for a year to help control diseases and weeds. In the hot subtropics,
for example, Florida, planting occurs in November and berries are harvested the follow-
ing December to May after which the plants are plowed under.
6.7.4 Harvest and Postharvest Care
Typically, berries change color when ripe and are then harvested. In many cases the
berries are hand harvested and transported from the field in boxes to a processing
area where they are washed and packaged for sale. Washing and cooling leads to
increased storage or shelf life. All berries are highly perishable and must be handled
with great care to keep them in good condition until sold.
6.7.5 Consumption
Berries are most typically eaten fresh and without cooking. Although they may be eaten
as part of the dish of a main meal, they are more often added to main dishes as
garnishes. They are also eaten as desserts either fresh or in combination with other
dessert items such as ice cream.
6.7.6 World Production
World berry production is shown in Figure 6.24 on the basis of FAO data on the world
production of berries. The largest berry production is in the United States and the
Russian Federation with lesser, but still large, production in Canada, Germany,
several eastern European countries, and some countries in the Middle East. The charac-
teristics of selected berries and how they are commonly eaten is given in Table 6.5. In
addition to being eaten as listed in Table 6.5, berries are also eaten as a snack. They are
also used in salads, as toppings for other foods, particularly breakfast cereals in the
