Raspberry Challenges Pt 1
I’m Bob Larson. With the final harvest numbers yet to be released, Washington red raspberry growers can be satisfied with another productive growing season with estimates calling for 68-to-70-million pounds.
But, Washington Red Raspberry Commission executive director, Henry Bierlink says this very difficult business is forcing growers out for a number of reasons …
BIERLINK … “There’s so many different, but I think again it all really comes down to pricing. If we can’t get a sustainable price that sustains our industry, you know, we’re looking to lose people and we have lost a lot of growers over the last 10-years.”
Those low prices, Bierlink says lead to other problems along the supply chain …
BIERLINK … “So, you know, there’s part of that is just the ongoing always consolidation of, you know, of farms just like other businesses, grocery stores, whatever. But, a big part of it is just a, I mean, it’s really hard to produce and lose money every year.”
And since virtually all of our berries go to processing, Bierlink says “Please” … “Buy Frozen” …
BIERLINK … “That’s what we’re trying to get people to do because even now, this time of the year, I mean there’s such a different market. Grocery stores, they want one single supplier that’s going to supply them berries year-round. And, you know, the Driscoll’s and others, they can do that.”
Listen tomorrow for more on Washington’s red raspberry industry and the other challenges that make it so difficult to survive.
