Who Supplies Costco's Fresh Raspberries?

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Costco is a great shopping destination for any fruit lover. From large packs of strawberries to bags of apples as heavy as dumbbells, the warehouse giant stocks enough produce to feed a crowd. Its 12-ounce packages of fresh organic and non-organic raspberries make it easy to stock up, but Costco doesn't grow and package this item itself. According to its website, the berries are "sourced from USA or Mexico." That's not super specific, so where do they actually originate?

The answer is a bit complicated. Essentially, it's based on the time of year and the location of your Costco warehouse. To find out exactly where Costco sourced your raspberries, there are a few steps you can take. First, check the label on the top or bottom of the package; in addition to a country of origin and a berry company (like Driscoll's), there might be more specific information about a region, state, or farm where the raspberries were grown.

The Pacific Northwest, in particular, grows a lot of raspberries. Washington, Oregon, and California are the country's largest suppliers, but you might find some Northeastern berries in your local Costco, too. The raspberry growing season runs from June through October in the U.S., and the ones sold at Costco and other grocery stores during the rest of the year most likely come from Mexico or further south.

Travel time is important for raspberries since they're so lightweight and sensitive. They're usually placed into plastic clamshell packaging in the field directly after being plucked from the plant for preservation. These berries also have a short shelf life, and for some Costco customers, this has caused issues with freshness. One verified purchaser reviewed the fruit on the Costco website, giving them 1 star out of 5 and writing that the berries on top of the package looked okay but grew mold two days later. Another reviewer hypothesized that Costco was experiencing supply chain problems because they noticed berries rotting in the store.

Even if there are reasons to never buy produce from Costco (like its unrealistically large bulk packaging), there are some ways to make sure your Costco raspberries stay fresh. Sort through the package at home to weed out any wet, moldy, or discolored berries. Then either wash them gently with cool water if you're going to eat them right away, or keep them unwashed in the clamshell plastic package. If you do notice a package of raspberries from Costco is inedible, you can return it full and uneaten for a full refund ASAP.