December 12, 2025 in Berry News

Behind The Raspberry Job: Growing Raspberries in Australia

Ever wondered what goes into producing those perfectly plump, jewel-red raspberries that burst with flavour the second you bite into them? Growing fresh, beautiful and delicious raspberries doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a fascinating journey that combines science, artistry, and genuine passion for quality produce.

Let’s take you behind the scenes to discover what it really takes to bring you the finest raspberries, all year round.

When Are Raspberries in Season in Australia?

Here’s brilliant news for raspberry lovers: thanks to Australia’s diverse climate and sophisticated growing methods, fresh Australian raspberries are available virtually all year round!

Peak Raspberry Season

Raspberry season in Australia runs from early November through to mid-April, with summer being the absolute peak production period. During these warmer months, you’ll find raspberries at their most abundant in supermarkets across the country.

Year-Round Raspberry Joy

During the cooler months between April and November, the raspberries on your table are grown in Australia’s warmer regions; places like Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales, South East Queensland, and Northern Perth in Western Australia.

When summer kicks in around November, production shifts to cooler climate regions including Tasmania, Victoria, and South Western Australia, where milder summer conditions create perfect growing environments. This strategic approach to growing raspberries in Australia across different climate zones means you can enjoy fresh, locally-grown berries no matter the season.

The Journey Starts Years Before You Taste Them

The raspberry journey begins with natural breeding methods through cross-pollination. Our research and development team are like botanical matchmakers, carefully selecting the best parent plants to create even better offspring.

This isn’t quick work. The perfect raspberry can take five to seven years to develop from initial cross to commercial planting. During this breeding phase, our team analyses berry composition to understand what creates that ideal raspberry flavour (the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness).

By the time a new variety is ready for our independent growers to plant commercially, it has usually been tasted several thousand times. Every potential variety is evaluated for flavour, texture, firmness, shelf life, and how well it grows in different Australian climates. Only the absolute best make it through.

Plant health is essential during the breeding phase too. Our team works in pristine, controlled conditions completely free from pests, pathogens and viruses, ensuring growers start with the healthiest possible plants.

From Planting to Your Punnet

Each raspberry is grown with genuine care and expertise by our passionate, independent growers. The process requires careful coordination of varieties, geography, and perfect planting times.

The Growing Cycle

The growing process begins between November and March, when mother plants are delicately planted in perfectly prepared soil. Raspberries thrive in well-drained, slightly acidic soil that’s rich in organic matter. Getting this foundation right is crucial for producing exceptional fruit.

Raspberries are harvested in a continuous flow starting around March in many regions. Here’s where it gets interesting: after the first harvest, growers give plants careful pruning and maintenance, then another cycle begins. Each plant can be harvested twice in some varieties before the season ends, and the same plant continues producing for as long as five years before replacement. That’s a lot of raspberries from one plant!

Hand-Picked at Dawn

Raspberries are incredibly delicate and are far more fragile than strawberries or blueberries. Each berry is a collection of tiny drupelets held together around a central core, requiring special care from the moment it’s picked.

Every morning during harvest, our experienced Australian farmers are up at dawn, hand-picking and packing raspberries right there in the field. The cooler morning temperatures help maintain firmness and extend shelf life. Each raspberry is carefully assessed as it’s picked for colour, ripeness, and firmness.

Why hand-pick? There’s simply no machine that can match the gentle touch and discerning eye of an experienced picker. Each raspberry is treated with the care it deserves.

Quality First, Always

Right after picking, punnets are stored in optimal cooling conditions as quickly as possible. Before any punnet leaves the farm, our Quality Assurance team inspects for flavour, appearance, firmness, and shelf life. Only when raspberries meet our exacting standards are they ready for your local supermarket.

This commitment to quality at every stage is what sets Driscoll’s premium Australian raspberries apart.

Choosing and Storing the Best Raspberries

Once our raspberries hit supermarket shelves, here’s what to look for:

The perfect raspberry is:

Plump and full, with well-formed drupelets
Brightly coloured with vibrant, deep red throughout
Sporting a soft, hazy gloss (not wet or sticky)
Firm but yielding slightly to gentle pressure
Dry, not stuck together with moisture

Quick tip: Check the bottom of the punnet—staining or wet patches can indicate damaged berries inside.

To keep them fresh:

Refrigerate immediately (ideally 0-4°C)
Don’t wash until ready to eat (moisture encourages mould)
Give them space, don’t stack things on top
Enjoy within a day or two, or freeze for later use

The Raspberry Joy Continues

Understanding the journey from breeding programme to your breakfast bowl gives new appreciation for these remarkable little fruits. Whether you’re enjoying them during peak raspberry season in summer, or savouring them on a winter morning thanks to our northern-grown berries, every raspberry represents years of development, months of careful growing, and hours of dedicated hand-picking.

That’s what’s behind every punnet; a story of passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality. It’s what makes us proud to be at the forefront of growing raspberries in Australia, and why we’re dedicated to bringing you the finest berries every single day of the year.

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