Raspberries
For 85 years, WSU Puyallup has developing excellent cultivars for the raspberry industry in Washington, the largest producer of processed raspberries in the US. Thirteen cultivars have been released from the program, including ‘Meeker’, the most widely planted cultivar in the state.
The breeding program develops cultivars that are harvestable by machine for the processing market, with firm, highly colored fruit and good yields. Our breeding goals also include resistance to soil- and pollen-borne diseases, as well as hardiness to winter injury and other environmental stresses. We also develop fresh market raspberry cultivars with excellent fresh flavor, attractive color, and large size.
Cascade Premier
Cascade Premier (released in 2018) is a floricane fruiting cultivar. It produces large, firm fruit and is well suited to machine harvesting and for processing. It is currently being evaluated for individually quick frozen processing. Because of its flavor, large fruit, attractive appearance and easy fruit release at an early stage of maturity, Cascade Premier is also suitable for fresh market use. It has good levels of tolerance to phytophthora root rot in field trials.
Cascade Harvest
Cascade Harvest (released 2015) is a new cultivar intended for the processing market but can also be grown for fresh use. It is a mid-season cultivar with high yields, good color, pleasant flavor, and excellent firmness and integrity for processing. It is moderately resistant to phytophthora root rot and to RBDV.
Cascade Gold
Cascade Gold (released 2014) is a niche yellow raspberry for the fresh market. It is a large, firm berry with good flavor. It is susceptible to both phytophthora root rot and RBDV.
Cascade Delight
Cascade Delight (released 2003) is a late season, firm, large, and attractive raspberry with excellent flavor that works well for fresh market. It is resistant to phytophthora root rot.
Meeker
Meeker (released 1965) has been the leading raspberry of the Washington processing industry for more than two decades. It is the most widely planted raspberry today and is favored for its high yields, good color and flavor, and good processing quality. It is moderately susceptible to phytophthora root rot and raspberry bushy dwarf virus, which can lead to problems on some sites.