tIn order to identify the optimal harvest time and monitor changes in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. cv. GlenAmple) fruit quality during ripening and storage, quality was assessed and compared by physical, chem-ical and sensory fruit quality criteria. Visual classification of fruit colour according to the Natural ColourSystem (NCS) chart and by physical measurement of fruit adherence to the receptacle or fruit compres-sion resistance yielded parallel and highly significant results. The light red colour stage correspondingto NCS S code 3060-Y90R was identified as the optimal harvest stage for commercial fresh marketing ofthe ‘Glen Ample’ cultivar. Fruit harvested at this stage developed the same chemical and sensory quali-ties as in situ matured fruits and maintained high sensory quality after 8 days of storage in the dark at2–3◦C. As the fruits mature, the concentration of titratable acids decreases, whereas the concentrationsof anthocyanins and the sugar:acid ratio increase in parallel with colour development. While correlationanalysis revealed a correlation between sensory traits like sweetness and acidity with sucrose and thesugar:acid ratio, respectively, the overall fruit tastefulness was not strongly correlated with any specificphytochemical component, thus illustrating the complex nature of this sensory trait. Due to its ease ofperformance, picking raspberry fruits related to a standardised colour chart is recommended for pickingraspberry fruits with optimal quality.