Since the berries of the black Bristol raspberry are very firm, they often are frozen, and they are ideal for making into raspberry preserves and jelly. One of the oldest black raspberry cultivars that is still grown on a large scale in states south of Pennsylvania is the Bristol black raspberry plant that was released to growers in 1934 by developers.The Bristol raspberry plants originated in New York and were widely tasted and tried at the New York Agricultural Station at Cornell University in inthaca, NY.The glossy black berries of the Bristol raspberry bushes ripen early and are sold at markets and at pick-your-own operations for the fresh berry market. The flavor of the Bristol raspberry is distinctive and pleasant with a nice aroma that is considered by many gardeners to be the top choice for taste and high yielding and just right for planting in your garden.