Long Cane Raspberry Production Guide
Currently, raspberry and blackberry acreage in Nova Scotia is estimated to be about 100 acres, with a farmgate value of approximately $1 million. Despite a good market and price potential for local producers, most raspberries sold through the four major retailers in Atlantic Canada are imported from elsewhere. The total annual consumption of raspberries in Atlantic Canada is estimated at 1.5 million kilograms, with 600,000 kilograms of that sold in Nova Scotia.
The traditional method for raspberry production is limited in its ability to achieve reliable, long-term success for a handful of reasons: the build-up of soilborne disease, nematodes and viruses over time; the susceptibility of raspberry canes to winter injury, which negatively impacts yield; and the vulnerability to weather events such as precipitation, hail and frost. In an industry where little growth has taken place in recent years, innovation and re-evaluation of current production practices are necessary to re-invigorate local production and meet the growing demand for raspberries.
Recognizing an opportunity through the use of novel alternative production systems, the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture partnered with Horticulture Nova Scotia and Perennia Food and Agriculture to launch a two-year pilot program in 2021 through 2023. The program supported two farms in their adoption of a novel production system for long cane raspberries, which were grown in semi-permanent tunnels, using a soilless substrate as the growing media. This innovative method of production was implemented to increase local production of raspberries and displace Nova Scotia’s reliance on soft berry imports.
What is a Long Cane Raspberry?
A long cane raspberry is a fully grown cane (1.4 – 2m tall) that can produce a crop within weeks of planting. These are grown in soilless substrate, under cover, to maximize yield potential and resolve some of the difficulties surrounding traditional field-based production.
Some of these benefits include:
- Potential for an extended harvest season, which reduces the province’s reliance on soft fruit imports
- Traditional outdoor planting usually has a 4-week harvest window
- Staggered planting can take place for 12 consecutive weeks
- High yield potential amongst the varieties available for this type of production
- Increase in predictable, marketable yield due to decreased damage caused by precipitation
- Increase in berry quality and shelf life as a result of growing under cover
- Reduced disease pressure due to shorter cropping cycles compared to a soil-based system
- Increase market variation in variety selection
- winter kill is no longer a deciding factor when selecting your variety
- opportunity to diversify flavour and visual profiles of raspberries
- Increased efficiency when it comes to water and fertilizer inputs
