Growing Raspberries in South Dakota

 

Raspberries can be eaten fresh; incorporated into breakfast cereals, yogurts or salads; baked in muffins or pies; preserved for jelly, jam or syrup; or used in numerous other ways. They are a good source of vitamin C and contain high levels of fiber. They also contain high levels of phytochemicals, such as ellagic acid, gallic acid and rutin, which are nutrients that are believed to reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer.

 

All raspberries belong to the genus Rubus and are brambles (thorny plants of the genus Rubus). Raspberries have a perennial crown and root system, but the canes (the aboveground stems) are biennials, meaning they live for only two growing seasons.

 

During the first season, the new canes, called primocanes, are produced from the roots and crown of the plant. New primocanes are produced each year from each plant, so fruit production continues year after year. After primocanes overwinter, they are called floricanes.

Video: Syngenta Ag Stories - Robyn McKee, Government and Industry Relations Manager

Syngenta Ag Stories - Robyn McKee, Government and Industry Relations Manager.

You don't need to grow up on a farm to build a career in Canadian agriculture. Robyn grew up in Richmond, Ontario - not on a farm, but in a community shaped by them.

Now she works at the intersection of policy, innovation, and the people who grow our food. Her drive? Making sure the right people understand what Canadian agriculture needs to thrive.

Her message to the next generation: "Agriculture today is full of possibilities - science, technology, business, communications, and policy. You're helping grow the food we eat, and it's hard to think of many things more impactful than that."