All varieties currently recommended in BC are for well-drained soils only. No varieties will perform well on a poorly drained site. Varieties are susceptible to raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) unless otherwise noted.

Note: PARC is the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Cascade Delight

A variety from the Washington State University breeding program recommended for the fresh market only. Fruit size is equal to or greater than Tulameen and is firmer. The fruit is attractive, firm, glossy with many drupelets and has a well-balanced, traditional raspberry flavour. Yields have been equal to Tulameen. The midpoint of the harvest season is similar to Tulameen, but the length of the harvest season is slightly shorter. It has good field resistance to root rot. It has long laterals that make it unsuitable for machine harvest. Excess nitrogen will make the laterals more prone to breakage.

Chemainus

A release from the PARC breeding program that is recommended in all areas. Fruit is attractive, large, dark, glossy and firm. It machine harvests well and is suited for mid season processing and fresh markets. It has good fruit shape with fine drupelets and some resistance to fruit rot. The plant has excellent vigour. Its primocanes are green with no spines and its laterals are short and strong with a good upright angle and well spaced fruit. It is susceptible to raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV), susceptible to crown gall, resistant to aphids and is  susceptible to root rot. Because of vigorous growth it is susceptible to cane Botrytis. Excess nitrogen will increase this problem.

Malahat

A variety from the PARC breeding program that ripens up to a week earlier than any other recommended variety and is well suited to the fresh and processing markets. Recommended in all areas, but may not be winter hardy in some interior locations. It produces high yields of large, firm, high quality fresh market fruit. Malahat is highly susceptible to root rot, therefore it should be planted only on raised beds in well-drained soil that is free of root rot. Fruit is produced on short laterals and is very easy to harvest. It is susceptible to RBDV. It is resistant to aphids and to cane Botrytis infection.

Meeker

Recommended for the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island where it is mainly grown for processing. It is suited to both hand and machine picking. It is firmer, later ripening and higher yielding, than Willamette.  Meeker has shown some tolerance to root rot on heavier soils, but it is less winter-hardy than most of the other listed varieties. It is immune to crown gall under field conditions. It is very susceptible to raspberry bush dwarf virus (RBDV).

Rudi (BC 90-4-23)

A new release from the PARC Agassiz program produces concentrated high yields of machine harvestable berries that ripen several days earlier than Meeker. Fruit is high quality, good flavour, firm and larger in size than Meeker. It is suited mainly for the processing market but also has potential for the early fresh market. It is resistant to aphids and has some field tolerance to root rot. It is susceptible to RBDV. It is recommended for trials in all areas.

Saanich

A release from the PARC breeding program that is recommended for trial for the individual quick freeze (IQF), processing and fresh markets. A very high yielding variety with a fruit size that is slightly larger than Meeker. The medium to large, glossy, firm, excellent quality fruit have fine drupelets and a pleasant flavour that is comparable to Tulameen. The canes are spineless with laterals that are short and bend easily without breaking and so are able to carry a heavy fruit load. It is well suited to mechanical harvest for the individually quick frozen (IQF) market. Under high fertility, This variety, although exposed to high raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) pressure for many years, has been slow to become infected.

Squamish (BC92-9-15) (trial)

A new release for trial from the PARC Agassiz program produces high yields of attractive, glossy, large, fruit that is suited for fresh and processing markets. It ripens earlier than most other varieties but a few days later than Malahat. It is a good potential replacement for the early fresh market. It machine harvests well. It shows good field tolerance to root rot. It is susceptible to RBDV and spur blight.

Tulameen

Recommended for the fresh market in all areas. It produces exceptionally large, firm fruit of excellent colour and quality. It begins to ripen 4 or 5 days later than Willamette and has an exceptionally long harvest season. Large fruit is harvested until mid-August and this overlaps with early primocane varieties for fresh market. The canes are strong and upright. Tulameen is susceptible to root rot, therefore it should be planted on well-drained soil that is free of Phytophthora. It is susceptible to spot mould on single drupelets. It is not suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Willamette

Recommended for the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island but not sufficiently hardy for most Interior locations. It was the main variety in BC for over 30 years. It is suited for both hand and machine picking for processing but it is not suitable for fresh marketing because of its dark fruit colour. Although it was preferred by the processing industry, it has now largely been replaced by Meeker. It is resistant to crown gall and to the common strains of raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV). It is susceptible to aphids.

Wakefield

A proprietary variety only availble to growers under license agreement. It is availalble only as tissue-cultured plug plants.  It is a late maturing variety producing high yields of small to medium size, very firm fruit, particularly suited to the Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) market. It is well suited to machine harvesting. It appears to be slow to develop raspberry dwarf virus (RBDV) and has some field resistance to root rot.

Source: PARC and field trials

Fall Fruiting Varieties (Primocane Fruiting)

Fall fruiting varieties are used to extend the fresh market harvest season. They are harvested in August through September, after the summer fruiting varieties.

Anne

A yellow-fruited variety with excellent yields of high quality fruit with a pleasant, apricot-like flavour. Fruit firmness is comparable to Dinkum, better than Autumn Bliss but not as firm as Heritage. It ripens earlier than Heritage.

Autumn Bliss

A fall fruiting variety from England. Ripe fruit is produced in early August, 2 to 3 weeks before Heritage. Quality through August is good, but deteriorates in September. Recommended for trial when fresh market fruit is needed through August. It is thorny, hard to pick and very susceptible to raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV).

Autumn Britten

An early ripening variety from the UK. Fruit is large, medium red, firm and ripens earlier than Autumn Bliss. Can be difficult to harvest. Plant is productive, canes have some spines. Susceptible to RBDV and resistant to aphids.

Caroline

Fruits up to two weeks later than Autumn Bliss, but earlier than Heritage. It is high yielding and has the largest fruit size of the fall-bearing varieties. Good firmness, flavour, colour and overall quality. Fruit releases readily making it easy to harvest. Plant is tall and vigorous.

Dinkum

This Australian variety has consistently been one of the highest yielding fall fruiting varieties in experimental plots in Abbotsford. It ripens up to 3 weeks earlier than Heritage. The fruit is dark purple-red with attractive large drupelets and a good flavour. It is easier to harvest than Heritage. The fruit is somewhat soft, but firmer than Autumn Bliss, yet it resists at-harvest and post-harvest fruit rot. The fruit may become soft and crumbly later in the season.

Himbo TopTM

A new release from the Promo-Fruit, Swiss breeding program. It produces strong canes that carry high yields of medium size fruit that is easy to pick. Plants stand up well to root rot. It is recommended for limited trials only.

Heritage

A standard fall fruiting variety. The canes are very vigorous, hardy, erect and sturdy. The plant produces many suckers. The fruit is medium-large, attractive and of reasonable flavour. It is firm and has good shelf life. It is recommended for mild coastal areas to extend the fresh fruit market season from September to first frost.

Jaclyn

An early ripening variety from the U. of Maryland program. Fruit is uniform, conic in shape, medium to large size, dark red and tends to be soft in hot weather. It matures just ahead of Caroline. It produces abundant, spiny canes and yields moderately. It is very susceptible to yellow rust. Does not release well in cool weather.

Joan J

An early ripening, high-yielding, spine-free variety from the UK. Fruit is large and firm with superior flavour compared to Autumn Bliss. Fruit is dark red and becomes darker when fully ripe and after harvest. High vigour and erect growth habit. Recommended for trial. Does not release well in cool weather.

Nantahala

A new variety from North Carolina State University with a late harvest season. In BC it is recommended for trial under tunnels. It produce large, high quality berries that are firm with good flavour.

Polka

An early ripening variety from the Polish breeding program. It produces attractive medium to large, glossy fruit that is firm, conic in shape with excellent sweet flavor. Plant is moderately vigorous. Some tolerance to root rot. Recommended for trial.

Summit

An early, high yielding, fall fruiting variety that ripens about two weeks earlier than Heritage. Fruit is round, and small to medium in size. Plant produces high number of primocanes. Good resistance to root rot.

Vintage (ORUS 2786-5)

A late, fresh market primocane fruiting variety from the USDA-ARS program in Oregon. It ripens a week later than Heritage. Fruit is large, firm and glossy with excellent flavor. Susceptible to root rot. Recommended for trial.