Barbara H. Drake One of the highlights of summer is enjoying the bounty of luscious Ohio berries. July is the peak month for blackberries and raspberries. A dull appearance or soft juicy berries means the fruit is old. The berries should be sweet and full flavored.
Sweetness varies by variety.
Raspberries may be red, black, yellow or purple. The red raspberry is the first to ripen, followed by black and then purple and yellow. Some varieties produce two crops a year and are called everbearing or fallbearing. Ripe raspberries should be large, bright, shiny, uniform in color and ripeness, attractive, firm and of good quality. Taste varies from tart to sweet depending on the variety and maturity.