A Raspberry A Day…

A raspberry a day just simply isn’t enough raspberries! Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce love Washington raspberries, and we think you should love them too.

Washington State makes some gorgeous, delicious raspberries. So if you’re going to live near where they grow so well, allow us to give you some additional incentives to try these berries on your next stop in to Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce.

But, That’s Not A Berry

Did you know that people have been calling fruits berries longer than science has had a definition for berries? How weird is that!? The word berry is actually an old Germanic word that was used to refer to grapes. And as other fruits were discovered that were somehow bunched and were squishy when pressed, they were generically referred to as berries too! So that berry that you love so much might not be a berry at all.

Botanically speaking, a berry is a fruit that grows from a flower. There are a lot more technical things that couldbe unpacked here, but just know that you are both commonly and scientifically accurate when you refer to blueberries, cranberries, and most kinds of currants as berries. But you could also say that bananas, eggplant, watermelon, tomatoes, and grapes are all berries too. You just might get stared at for a while. And if you just have to be right about this, feel free to kick strawberries, blackberries, and yes, raspberries out of the berry family. 

But we still love our local grown berries and think it’s just fine to stick with some of the colloquial phrases we have all grown up with. After all, we aren’t calling kiwifruit by it’s real name either. Ever asked for some fresh Chinese gooseberries? Yeah, we haven’t either.

Eat What’s Good For You

Aside from their delicious tartness and sweet flavor, raspberries have been linked to numerous health benefits. While it is commonly known that most berries are high in fiber and vitamin C, raspberries have a list of unique health benefits that they are created with. The American Cancer Society links a particular acid in raspberries to the breaking down of some carcinogens and slowing the reproduction of cancer cells. Similarly, red raspberries are given a heart-healthy nod for their ability to increase vascular health, reduce tissue stress, and assist in the breakdown of fatty tissue in the body.

In general, this nutrient-rich, Washington State staple fruit is low in sugar, helps to reduce inflammation, heightens brain and memory function, and has been linked to the fight against diabetes! Raspberries truly are full of countless health benefits for your body.

Culinary Versatility

Whether you start your day off with a smoothie, love a fresh muffin, or a full breakfast spread, there is a great place for raspberries on your morning menu. And when you are looking for a meal to prepare, raspberries go great on salads, in salsa, as a layer to your favorite parfait, or as a side all by themselves. And dessert is an easy win, as raspberries are great on ice cream, in spritzers or as great refreshing cocktail, in bread and various pastries, and they also make for wonderful syrups, jams, or sauces.

So Come And Get Em

The pride of Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce is in the fresh quality of the items that we sell. And we are especially proud to source local grown produce whenever we can find it done right and we love working with local farms to bring the best to our customers. So know that when you swing by today for those fresh raspberries, not only are you shopping local, but you are shopping local grown produce, helping farmers, and supporting Washington State! We can’t wait to serve you the next time you’re in one of our stores.