When I was a kid my neighbor had a raspberry bush. I remember going over into her yard and snacking on the sweet fruit.  I always  ate them a very specific way – cupping one berry on each of my fingertips and then popping them into my mouth one finger at a time. As soon as they were gone I would gather another ten berries and place them on my fingers starting the process over again.

Now whenever I buy raspberries I almost always eat the entire container immediately. Sometimes still using my fingertip method. There just never seem to be enough to justify putting away for later.

This past weekend we went on a mini Michigan tour.  Our first stop was St. Clair, just south of Port Huron where we stayed with Jason’s Grandpa Leo, and his wife Lorraine. They live along a river dividing the United States and Canada and often get the pleasure of viewing 1000 foot ships traveling along the St. Lawrence Seaway.

When we arrived Leo gave us a tour of their idyllic land including what I considered a massive raspberry patch.  It dwarfed the memory of my neighbors backyard bush.

Leo and Lorraine showing off their raspberry patch

They were everbearing raspberry plants, Leo told us.  Soon he would begin harvesting them for the second time this season. We could see flicks of red all through the bushes indicating they would be in for a terrific bounty as the berries ripened.  Unfortunately they weren’t ripe enough for us to enjoy any this trip, but I do plan on picking up some this weekend at the Green City Market.