fruit tinned, frozen, by air which is best

Dustykitten

I have just eaten some tinned raspberries, not something I usually buy but they were in a hamper we inherited at Christmas. It got me thinking. I know it is 'best' to try to eat seaonally and locally and where possible we do but sometimes it is nice to have something out of season.

So if I wanted raspberries right now environmentally which is the greenest option:

Tinned - no storage, but had to be processed initially
Frozen - but have used electricity being stored
Fresh - flown by air?

IamJen

Well, I'd say the best would be to go back in time and freeze your own from local supply. That said, I don't think there would be much difference in the electricity used between tinned and frozen. I think tinned berries are quite gross, personally, except perhaps for use on pancakes, so I'd go for the frozen.

The frozen or fresh would likely have less (or no) preservatives, and no added sugar, so that's something to consider. A tin is easier to recycle than the plastic bag that frozen ones usually come in.

You might (I don't think so) be able to get raspberries transported other than by air. I'm signed up with a box scheme, for instance that doesn't purchase any flown produce. However, I don't know that berries can be transported in this way. My oh and I are lovers of blueberries, and I've read that they are only shipped by air because they are so "delicate".

Ken68

Interesting question, Dusty.
My freezer is full of home grown fruit and vegetables, yet the total value compared to the cost of tinned stuff is less than £15. The freezer is rated at 292 kwh so £30 a year to run.
So even free food is not free.

Dustykitten

Before my raspberry canes got a disease I did freeze loads one year and it was great. Hoping to create a new bed this year to try to establish a new crop.