Intensive hydroponic raspberry production has become an attractive investment option due to its demand in global markets (heightened by the pandemic), thanks to its exquisite flavor and numerous health benefits.

In the “new normal,” the global fresh produce market has been completely reshaped. The food service sector that serves the hospitality industry, such as hotels, restaurants, conventions, and banquets, has been hit hard, but at-home consumption has grown stronger. Consumers at home are looking for nutritious alternatives and a diet that strengthens the immune system. One of the fruits that has benefited most from the market situation is the raspberry.

Traditionally, raspberries are grown in soil, but technology has brought this fruit into the modern era, and today the many advantages of planting raspberries in hydroponic systems with coconut fiber substrate are a reality. Whether you grow them in pots or grow bags, the technology package will depend on the management approach you want and the variety you work with, e.g., Adelita, Paris, Diamond Jubilee, among others. 

If grown in a grow bag, the volume typically ranges from 23 to 30 liters; the extra space stimulates basal shoots, resulting in faster plant development. A standard setup places between 10,000 and 12,000 units per hectare. In the case of pots, production in 7–8 liter formats has been widely adopted by modern growers, giving them full control of the crop. Density in this format ranges from 12,000 to 15,000 units per ha. As for the substrate, raspberry roots are very prone to rot, so FIBERMIX® coconut fiber, with its fine and uniform structure, is the ideal medium for growth and production.

The goal of every agricultural project is always: to achieve quality with the highest possible yields. Growers are often lured by the mirage of “savings” from not implementing a hydroponic system, when the jump in productivity from soil to hydroponics can bring exponential gains of up to 200% in production, depending on the case. In a hypothetical case, one hectare produces around 6,000 boxes; if we make the leap to HSC (Hydroponics with Coconut Substrate), we can aim for 10,000 per hectare, 66% more productivity with practically the same initial investment.

The main advantages of producing raspberries hydroponically in coconut fiber versus soil are:

• STANDARDIZED FIELD CONDITIONS: With a uniform substrate, we achieve the same conditions wherever roots and plants will live.
• STANDARD MANAGEMENT: With standardized field conditions, we consequently achieve standardized management of nutrition and irrigation.
• PROFITABILITY: When we harvest raspberries in soil, after 2 years we have to let the soil rest for approximately one year (depending on the case). This avoids downtime on the investment in irrigation systems, tunnels, etc.
• OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY: The technical team focuses on what matters most: producing and harvesting. This avoids moving stakes, hoops, tunnels, etc. Between cycles, only the substrate is changed.
• TEMPERATURE: Raspberries grown hydroponically in coconut fiber allow much more agile and flexible temperature management. When soil cools down, it takes a long time to warm up again.
• ROOT ACTIVITY: Thanks to temperature control, coco boosts root activity, which translates into plants with larger fruit sizes, heavier loads, and better nutrient and water uptake.
• PLANT DEVELOPMENT: The root is in perfect condition, allowing the crop to reach harvest sooner.
• FIELD CONFIGURATION: In hydroponics, we can very easily move plants from one section to another if needed and replant.

Today's reality demands that we be very agile and precise in our decision-making. We must stay on top of global consumption trends in order to diversify our crop portfolio and seize the opportunity to achieve greater profitability, hand in hand with AGTECH systems for hydroponic production with FIBERMIX® coconut fiber.

Contact DIDIHU and we will guide you every step of the way to the ideal hydroponic AGTECH solution for producing top-quality raspberries sustainably, so you can feel VERY PROUD.