Chapters 4.56

4.56.Wild Red raspberries(Rubus Idaeus)

Colby Older , University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Older,C. (2022) Fleshy Fruits. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/

Introduction

Wild red raspberries, formally known as Rubus idaeus, are significant in indigenous culture to this day. These rich, nontoxic, aggregate fruits provide nutrients rich in antioxidants, macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and even contain anticancer properties (Zafra-Stone et al., 2007). After cultivation, Rubus Idaeus can be consumed fresh, frozen and stored, used in jams or jellies, or beverages (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Usually located in thickets, open woods, fields, and rocky hillsides, the plant is often armed with numerous hooked bristles and spikes to protect themselves from predators, as seen in figure 1 (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Rubus idaeus bloom from June to July, depending on when temperatures initially rise in the spring and are a great food/nesting source for pollinators (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Bees for example, pollinate the raspberry plant in the summer, and use the cane as a nesting structure during the winter (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Of all the varieties of Raspberries including yellow, red, black, and purple; Red raspberries are the most common and highly valued type in North America (Murphy, 2006). This is primarily because red raspberries have the greatest geographical range due to high cold weather tolerance, which allows them to thrive every spring after cold winters (Murphy, 2006). The raspberry itself contains a unique structure because it is built from many tiny berries tightly intertwined around a central etaerio to form the whole berry (Murphy, 2006). The central etaerio is what differentiates Rubus idaeus from other berries, structurally making red raspberries much softer (Murphy, 2006). These berries are softer because raspberries are picked with the central etaerio remaining on the plant, which differs from other berries where the central etaerio remains in the berry. (Murphy, 2006). Therefore, red raspberries can be very abundant, and are a great food source for indigenous communities across Canada.

Geographical Orgins

Rubus idaeus grow in unique origins across the world. Knowing they are often found in thickets, open woods, fields, and rocky hillsides the origins of these plants are rural (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). In Canada, these fruits can extend from the east coast to the west, and for that reason most indigenous groups in Canada have access during summer months (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). From a world prospective, wild red raspberries grow throughout North America, extending down to Mexico, and are also quite common in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Geographical origins and production by country is illustrated in figure 2, which emphasises the need for Canada to increase raspberry production, and exploit employment opportunities for associated indigenous groups

Indigenous Significance

Wild Raspberries have a wide range of purposes for different indigenous groups beyond a simple culinary source (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Of course, raspberries were obtained for consumption, however indigenous groups also sought many medicinal benefits (Murphy, 2006). Indigenous peoples used raspberries, along with the plant and roots to treat various infections (Murphy, 2006). This includes using the roots, leaves, and bark to treat infections in the digestive and intestinal tract, as well as using raspberry leaf tea to calm nausea and vomiting (Murphy, 2006). For culinary purposes raspberries were used to make juices, dried and stored, and of course, eaten as a berry (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). The whole plant has proven to provide ascertain nutrients as well, hence some indigenous groups would eat the succulent stem of the raspberry as a vegetable in the springtime (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Some examples of how berries were used in indigenous communities follow; Indigenous groups such as the Okanagan-Colville people used berries to create a juice, which could be bottled and stored for prolonged periods of time (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). The Fisherman Lake Slave would boil the raspberries, place them into wooden birch baskets and leave them to sun dry, where they can then be stored and eaten later as raisins (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Today, indigenous groups often freeze the berries, which can then be turned into jams and jellies for later dates (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Therefore, Rubus idaeus can improve the health of indigenous peoples metabolically and physically.

Benefits To Humans/Animals

Wild red raspberries are an exceptional source of food for animals, as well as pollinators. For reference, in approximately one cup of raspberries, there will be 8 grams of fiber, 0.8 grams of fat, 64 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, and 14.7 grams of carbs as seen in figure 3 (Cervoni, 2021). For human health, these berries contain anthocyanins, antioxidants and a range of vitamins, macronutrients, and micronutrients which all have many health benefits (Zafra-Stone et al., 2007). Note anthocyanins are coloured pigments found in plants providing the raspberry with its red color, and antioxidants are substances that are important for removing potentially harming oxidizing agents in an animal's body (Zafra-Stone et al., 2007). Some of these health benefits include healthy vision, urinary tract health, diabetes management, disease prevention, improved heart function and improved dermal health (Zafra-Stone et al., 2007). Anthocyanins and antioxidants are contributors to many of these benefits, but specifically are important for disease prevention including arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease (Sachdev, 2022). Further Vitamin C is very abundant in wild red raspberries and is beneficial for vision and dermal health by protecting each from UV light exposure and oxidative damage (Sachdev, 2022). The fiber content in raspberries is important for blood sugar, and blood pressure levels, which is important for people who have diabetes (Sachdev, 2022). Therefore, raspberries contain a wide range of nutrients that are essential to human/animal health.

Opportunities Of Wild Red Raspberries

In indigenous communities, the growth of raspberries provided various trade and marketing opportunities. Knowing that some of these communities used raspberries for jams and juice’s, it can only be assumed that there was trade involved (Turner & Kuhnlein,1991). Trade/marketing would allow for indigenous communities to alleviate poverty and create employment. In this case, poverty could be alleviated through employment provided farming raspberries. In historic times it would have been inefficient to only market wild raspberries though, knowing that they are a wild species it would be difficult to control the growth. Hence, it became important for indigenous communities to plant their own to trade/market and consume themselves (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Additionally, raspberries that were grown in home gardens could yield more and would be much easier to harvest because of their origins (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Therefore, raspberry farming can alleviate poverty and create various employment opportunities in indigenous communities across Canada.

Limitations

Limitations of Rubus idaeus revolve around there wild nature. The growth of wild red raspberries cannot be controlled under most circumstances. Their wild nature poses many growth limitations including soil types, weather conditions, predators and competition from other plants (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). Rubus idaeus ideally grow in well-drained moist soils, which can be hard to find in certain geographical locations and season’s (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Provided that they usually grow in thickets, open woods, fields, and rocky hillsides, some of these locations are better than others (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Knowing growth is enhanced in moist soils, locations such as rocky hillsides and fields are not ideal causing the plants to decrease yield. Whereas production from thickets and open woods is good because more sun protection exists, therefore increasing soil moisture (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Weather is a major factor in the growth of Rubus idaeus especially in temperate weather locations. Hot summers have a large effect on the raspberry and its moisture uptake, which decreases yield in the summers (Dauphinais & Dubois, 2021). Competition from other plants can be a large issue for new Rubus idaeus plants, and lesser for established plants (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). Studies show that in the first year of growth Rubus idaeus plants exposed to competition from annual weeds had difficulty with cane growth (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). This means that an established weed would not allow the cane to grow, and consequently the plant would die (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). This part of a raspberry’s growth is crucial to its development, causing growers to start their plants in controlled environments (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). Though, even established canes will die if competing weeds are not picked before June (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). Weed coverage is another issue related to the growth of raspberries. When dense weeds cause significant coverage (shade) over a raspberry plant the cane length and bush size will decrease proportionally (Lawson & Wiseman, 1976). Another limitation of raspberry plants is animal predators. Herbivores are animals containing diets completely based on plants and berries, which seriously threatens raspberry plants. Raspberry plants are equipped with hooks and bristles to deter these animals, though it does not stop all (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). If these animals try to get a raspberry, their snout will get poked and they will lose interest quickly, this is a good example of an adaptation that raspberry plants have made in the past (Turner & Kuhnlein, 1991). Therefore, there are many limitations in Rubus idaeus plants because of their wild nature.

Conclusion

In conclusion Rubus idaeus can be very beneficial to indigenous communities and the people/animals involved. This is strongly a result of the micronutrient and macronutrient contents within the berries, as well as their great diversity of other vitamins, anthocyanins and antioxidants. Raspberries are also very benefitable to indigenous communities because of the opportunities associated, which has a large emphasis on trading/ marketing. Therefore, raspberries are an excellent naturel resource for indigenous groups across Canada.

References

1.Cervoni, B. (2021). Raspberry Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. https://www.verywellfit.com/raspberry-nutrition-facts-calories-and-health-benefit-411471

2.Dauphinais, J., & Dubois, A. (2021). Native Plant Supplement. City of Brandon. https://brandon.ca/images/pdf/GeneralInfo/Supplemental_Native_Plant_List-ACC.pdf

3.Lawson, H. M., & Wiseman, J. S. (1976). Weed competition in spring-planted raspberries. Weed Research, 16 155-162. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3180.1976.tb00396.x

4.Murphy, H. (2006). Foods Indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. American Indian Health and Diet Project. https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/raspberries.html

5.Sachdev, P. (2022). Raspberries: Health Benefits, Nutrients per Serving, Preparation Information, and More. Nourish. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-raspberries

6.Sycamore, S. (2021). How to Identify Wild Raspberries, Blackberries and Related Wild Berries. Sycamore Garden Plant Database. https://foraging.sycamore.garden/plants/edible-wild-raspberries-blackberries

7.Turner, N. J., & Kuhnlein, H. V. (1991). Traditional Plant Foods of Canadien Indigenous Peoples. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/3/ai215e/ai215e.pdf

8.Zafra-Stone, S., Yasmin, T., Bagchi, M., Chatterjee, A., Vinson, J.A. and Bagchi, D. (2007), Berry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease prevention. Mol. Nutr. Food Res., 51: 675-683. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200700002