Discussions

Does anyone recall if fresh raspberries are available in stores near the end of October?  
 
I can't remember if I've seen them that late in the year. I am planning on making a special dessert for someone and I will need whole raspberries for it. Frozen ones are often broken into smaller pieces and a little soggy, so I don't want to use them.  
 
I am debating about purchasing some fresh ones now and freezing them to use later, but I'm worried they will be soggy when I thaw them. If I know they will still be available in stores at that time, then I'm set and don't need to worry about it!

Hopefully someone with more direct knowledge of grocery store produce can chime in, but two things to pull from the link below as far as Ontario crops:  
- crops come twice a year, once in summer and once in fall  
- the Spotted Wing Drosophila fruit fly wreaked havoc on the summer crop in Ontario at least, to the point of wiping out some entire harvests for some growers:  
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/raspberries-spotted-wing-drosophila-london-1.4216152  
 
Maybe someone more plugged in with a grocery store can comment on when fall crops would normally come in, how supply and pricing are this year and when raspberries shift to coming from other sources like California (keeping in mind that Ontario is far from the only area with SWD problems). You could also chat with someone in the produce section of your grocery store... I know last year when I was looking for a lot of oranges for juicing they had offered to do a custom order for me. If you go that route, please keep us posted on what you find out!

Hopefully you found what you were looking for. Definitely seemed to be slim pickings this year but FYI right at this moment Sobeys South is clearing it their half pint raspberries for 1.99 each. I don’t think they’ll be good for much longer if not used or frozen soon though!