Hebrew: פֶּטֶל, pettel
Family: Rosaceae
Scientific name: Rubus idaeus
The raspberry is a perennial plant from the rosaceae family; its roots are perennial but its stem and branches are either annual are biennial, and shrivel and die after fruiting. Each year, new branches emerge from its roots or root collar (primocane and floricane). The life span of the braches, for all strains, does not exceed 18 months.
Raspberry plants have hooked thorns used for climbing. Its flowers are clustered and develop at the stem tip. The fruit consists of many drupelets sitting on a receptacle connected to the stem. The difference between raspberry and blackberry is that after picking the raspberry, a hole remains in the fruit, while with the blackberry, the fruit remains whole after being picked.
Since raspberry plants require many cold units to bear fruit, it is grown primarily in cold, northern countries, such as North America and Canada. In Israel, commercial cultivation has only begun in the past few decades.
Tree or vegetable: The posekim debate extensively whether the raspberry should be classified as a vegetable or a tree, and thus whether the orlah prohibition applies. One the one hand, the raspberry plant is perennial, resembling a tree. However, its rootsuckers bear fruit for a short period (one year to eighteen months) and the plant continues to bear fruit from rootsuckers that emerge from the ground, resembling a vegetable.
In practice, the raspberry is halachically considered a vegetable and there is no need to wait orlah years. Some kashrut certifications are stringent and use raspberries from outside of Israel only.
Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting – annuals & grapevines): Following its classification as a vegetable, it is subject to the kilayim prohibition and should be distanced from other vegetables and grapevines.
Insfestation: The structure of the berry is conducive for infestation and it is extremely difficult to verify that the fruit is insect-free.
Tourist harvest: In recent years, raspberry plants have been cultivated in groves for tourist harvest. Note that when payment is made at the beginning of the visit, the harvest is subject to terumot and ma’aserot.
Shehechiyanu (blessing for new fruit): Rasberry fruits naturally during summer and is anavailable during the winter, so shehechiyahu is said when eaten.
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