[follow the Wikipedia links]

We'll take a break from the series of reports on the

2007 Berry Health Benefits Symposium

(click here for parts one and two)

to celebrate the short harvest season in early July -- the "rush" -- for

red raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

Little known facts about reds (from the Washington Red Raspberry Commission)

• the major producing regions of red raspberries in the United States are Washington, Oregon and California
• northwestern Washington, particularly Whatcom County, accounts for nearly 60 % of the total US production of about 70 million pounds per year!
• most of the reds grown in Washington are the cultivar called Meeker, just one of more than 20 varieties grown in the state
• British Columbia's Fraser River Valley near Vancouver produces 30.5 million pounds per year, mainly near the city of Abbotsford, Canada's red raspberry capital and home of BC Raspberries
• Products of the harvest? Other than fresh so popular in markets presently are fresh-frozen blocks, individually-quick frozen ("IQF") berries, puree and juice concentrate used for manufacturing a variety of popular consumer products

Courtesy of the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission

Excellent article on raspberry nutrients from World's Healthiest Foods,

the George Mateljan Foundation (click!)

Specific nutrient profile for red raspberries (click!)

High content levels especially for

Health-related pigments and other phytochemicals in red raspberries (click for more information!)

     Antioxidant Phytochemicals                Anti-Disease Effects Under Research

• anthocyanins                                cancer, heart and vascular system, inflammation
• ellagic acid                                   bacterial and viral infections, cancer
• quercetin                                     cancer, neurological disorders
• catechins                                     cholesterol, cardiovascular, cancer,                                                                     bacterial infections

Read more about nutrients at the Linus Pauling Institute

Micronutrient Information Center!

Recent Research on Laboratory Models of Cancer

• Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and suppression by red raspberry juice (and the juice of other berries)
• Raspberry polyphenols exhibit anti-cancer effects on in vitro models of colon cancer
• Raspberry ellagitannins inhibit proliferation of cancer cells

Courtesy of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission

Reading

• Dr. N. Seeram, Red Raspberry Pigments and Potential Health Benefits
• Washington Red Raspberry Commission
• Red Raspberry Research Archive
• Useful websites for Berries and Berry Commissions
• Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University

Archives (click!)

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Dr. Paul
The Berry Doctor