Raspberry and Strawberry Growing Opportunities Expand in New York

Raspberry and strawberry production in the U.S. is concentrated in California and Florida, where climate variability and rising costs challenge long-term sustainability. Demand for locally grown fruit is increasing, creating opportunities for producers in New York State and other cold-climate regions. However, typical varieties grown in California and Florida are not well adapted to northeastern conditions or protected systems such as high tunnels. Growers need regionally adapted cultivars and objective performance data to guide planting and management decisions.

Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University’s Berry Breeding Program combined research, on-farm trials, and grower education to address these needs. Over three years, researchers evaluated 18,480 berry seedlings, including strawberry, red raspberry, black and purple raspberry, and blackberry, for yield, fruit quality, disease resistance, and production timing.

Selections were tested at Cornell AgriTech and through on-farm trials in New York and multistate locations. A total of 120 advanced genotypes were selected for further evaluation and propagation. In 2025, five strawberry and raspberry selections were propagated for commercial trials at three New York farms. Previous work led to the development of 2 primocane red raspberry varieties, ‘Crimson Beauty’ and ‘Crimson Blush,’ which were released, licensed to nurseries, and made available for 2025 spring planting. Extension outreach included field tours, grower consultations, and industry presentations, providing performance data and management guidance.

Results

‘Crimson Beauty’ begins harvest in late July to early August, while ‘Crimson Blush’ extends production from September into November, increasing the marketing window for NY growers. Licensed nurseries reported strong sales, expanding availability across the U.S. and Canada. Growers gained access to new cultivars and research-based data to support variety selection and protected production practices, improving production efficiency and market timing.

For more, continue reading at cals.cornell.edu.