Norway: Growing consumption of fresh raspberries

Until 2001, it was hardly possible to obtain fresh raspberries in Norwegian stores. That same year however, the Scottish “Glen Ample” appeared on the market, a novel variant with large, tasty fruits resistant to the ails of transportation.

Norwegian consumers loved this fruit. In 2012, 880 tons of raspberries were produced for fresh consumption in Norway. The raspberry was partially produced in Sogn og Fjordane, but 1262 tons was still imported. Bama is a big distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables in Norway. The company intends to market more then 1000 ton fresh raspberries per year.

Demand continued to rise. While the new cultivation methods offer higher yields and a longer growing season, new varieties are tested. One of these varieties is Tulameen, suitable for fresh consumption, coming from Southern Europe. The variety cannot be grown in Norway, due to the country’s harsh winter climate, but the plant can stay in storage overwinter and is a good candidate for early production in greenhouses.

Tulameen has a higher concentration of vitamin C, sugar, organic acids and antioxidants than the Glen Ample variety, and tastes wonderful.