Berries – the superfood from Switzerland
Superfoods are foods that are renowned for being good for our health. After all, they are rich in nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. However, these superfoods are often imported to Switzerland from far away lands. Local alternatives usually require fewer resources such as water, fertiliser and energy, meaning that their environmental footprint is smaller. What is more, the local economy is also supported.
“Superfoods from South America? There are local superfoods too”.
Berries from Switzerland
We are Simon and Christoph Räss, and we run a berry and fruit farm in Benken in the canton of Zurich. We only started this venture around ten years ago: our parents had previously practised arable farming, focussing on potatoes, and had also kept cattle in a shared stable.
At that time, Christoph’s girlfriend was working in a berry processing plant. This sparked our interest in the idea of “Swiss-grown berries” and we were all instantly enthusiastic about the idea.
What attracted us was that many berries were still uncommon in Switzerland. This meant we would have to figure out and experiment with a lot on our own. It provided us with the opportunity to be trailblazers in this area, be innovative and start something genuinely new.
“Local superfoods require fewer resources such as water, fertiliser and energy”.
A full range of table berries
We got the ball rolling with processing berries like blackcurrants, chokeberries and redcurrants, which we harvested mechanically. Various processing companies use them to make juices, concentrates and dried fruit. At the time, this market was relatively untapped, so it seemed sensible for us to enter it: the requirements are not quite as high as for table berries that are sold fresh.
Today, between April and October, we offer a full range of familiar berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, chokeberries and goji berries. We also grow niche varieties, including sea buckthorn, gooseberries, serviceberries and honeyberries.
Simply healthy!
Our body needs certain amounts of various nutrients, minerals and vitamins if it is to function well and stay healthy. Antioxidants are substances that boost stress resistance and enhance both our health and life expectancy. We therefore refer to foods that boast particularly high levels of these ingredients as superfoods.
Dark berries such as blueberries and blackberries are especially notable for their antioxidants and dietary fibres. Sea buckthorn likewise falls under this category and also provides a lot of vitamin C. Raspberries and redcurrants stand out thanks to their vitamin C and beta-carotene levels. The latter acts as an antioxidant and can be converted into vitamin A1 in the body.
“Our body needs sufficient nutrients, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants – berries are an excellent way to meet these needs”.
Wunderbeeren
Strawberries
Strawberries primarily consist of water but are also packed with important vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fibre and secondary plant compounds. Despite their name, strawberries are not berries at all, but rather aggregate fruits. The true fruits are the many small seeds found on the red fruit base.
Raspberries
In addition to various vitamins and minerals, raspberries contain the flavonoid rutin as well as ellagic acid. Both have antioxidant properties, meaning they can slow down the ageing process and reduce inflammation.
Blackberries
Blackberries have the highest provitamin A content of any berry, supporting eye and mucus membrane health. And by the way: blackberry leaves can be used fresh or dried as tea – they can help to combat fever, inflammation in the throat and diarrhoea.
Blueberries
Antioxidants can help to protect cells against stress and support the skin and immune system. They are found, in particular, in dark berries such as blueberries, blackberries and elderberries. These local berries contain even higher antioxidant levels than imported acai berries. That is why the latter are not regarded as a superfood in their native Brazil, but rather as an everyday food.
Redcurrants
If you are looking for more dietary fibre, beta-carotene and vitamin C, you’ll find plenty in raspberries, blueberries, redcurrants, dried apricots, plums and spinach, which contain comparable amounts to Chinese goji berries. Redcurrants are effective against iron deficiency, can support wound healing and help to manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Chokeberries
Originally from North America, chokeberries contain vitamins A, B2, E and C and are also high in secondary plant compounds with antioxidant effects. However, chokeberries take some getting used to due to their high tannin content, which is why they are best enjoyed in the form of juice or jam as well as dried in bars or baked goods.
Goji berries
In addition to being packed with vitamins and minerals, goji berries also contain beta-carotene and ellagic acid, further enhancing their health-promoting properties. Beta-carotene forms vitamin A in the body, while ellagic acid has an antioxidant effect. However, goji berries from China do not represent a step up from native berries from a nutritional standpoint. They perhaps nevertheless come across as more attractive than familiar berries at first glance due to their exotic origin.
Gooseberries
Gooseberries contain a great deal of vitamin C as well as vitamin B9 (folic acid), which is important during pregnancy and can help to combat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism and gout. The minerals potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron help to strengthen teeth, hair and nails.
High Swiss prices
Swiss products usually go hand in hand with Swiss prices, meaning they tend to be more expensive than imports from abroad. Surprisingly, however, this hasn’t been much of an issue for us. For our organic-conscious farm shop customers, organic quality and Swiss origin are important. However, even large customers appreciate the advantages offered by local production: they know us, are familiar with where our berries grow and thus simply feel “more connected”.
Goji berries and serviceberries present challenges
We reinvest our earnings from ongoing operations back into the business, meaning that we can’t actually afford to make many mistakes. We therefore are extremely careful to make sure we leave no stone unturned when introducing a new berry. Nevertheless, not everything went to plan right away. For example, we had to scale down our goji berry production and reorganise how we cultivate our serviceberries.
Pests and weather
As climate change progresses, weather conditions are tending to become increasingly unstable. It is therefore important that we protect our fruit and berry crops well. We are still in the process of installing nets everywhere to protect our crops from hail.
We are also worried about certain pests, particularly the cherry vinegar fly, which likes to lay its eggs in dark fruits, making them taste of vinegar and rendering them inedible. The Japanese beetle has now also migrated to Ticino from Italy. Despite these hurdles, however, we remain optimistic about the future.
“Climate change means that we have to protect our crops against pests and hail”.
Healthy eating
Healthy eating is a current trend, and we expect it to continue. It is important to us that local foods gain more attention. Imported berries are often not produced in line with Swiss standards and are sometimes even contaminated with pesticides. We believe that a healthy diet also includes organically produced food.
“Healthy eating includes local foods”.
Other farm activities
In addition to berries, we also cultivate grapes, especially fungus-resistant varieties (FRGs) that require fewer pesticides. We also grow plums, apples, pears, quinces and cherries. In winter, we harvest plant materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
This might also interest you
Seasonal calender
The seasonal calendar shows when the different fruits and vegetables are in season.
Farm Shops
Find Swiss farm shops in your area and enjoy fresh produce.
