Not sure what you mean by 'fruitlets instead of a complete berry' Owdb.

I know what you mean, I wonder if the ones on the edge get dried out more by the wind etcetera. so they are more likely to separate into drupelets. the raspberry is a collection of small drupes.

Raspberries are groups of individual "drupelets", normally held together by very fine curly hairs. I don't know what caused Owdboggy's hairs to uncurl, though. Did they do this last year, too, Owdboggy? If not, maybe it's the weather, and the center ones are more sheltered? It's a puzzle!

Oops! Posted while you were, Seaburngirl!

Thanks SBG and Tugb. there is always more to learn, or remember - yes of course 'drupelents'!

They have always done this. The ends are as sheltered as the middle. Makes picking a bit more difficult as the berries tend to separate into drupelets as one picks and if you are not careful they fall to the floor. No change in taste, to me they are still unpleasant, but she likes them.

the ones in the middle will have slightly higher humidity so that could be the reason. they have their own mini microclimate. but you do it for 'love' and that's admirable as you clearly don't enjoy the fruit. :o)

If thy have always done it then it must be the plant that's at fault. There are brambles overhanging part of our veg patch and the fruit on those rarely comes off whole but breaks up into drupelets when its picked.. It sounds very similar to your problem. I think the solution is to replace the canes.