Haskap Canada Association

How Haskap Fared In Alberta Last Year

2011-09-04T07:46:00.002-05:00

An online venture magazine tells the story of haskap in Alberta last year. Read it here:

This Could Be A Berry Sweet Deal Little-Known Haskap Has The Potential To Revive Alberta’s Fruit Industry

http://albertaventure.com/tag/blue-honeysuckle/

Meet Prairie Plant Systems

2011-08-01T07:29:00.007-05:00

Prairie Plant Systems (PPS) began in 1988 by propagating Saskatoon bushes. It now operates three facilities, managing a broad range of plant species with innovation and new plant biotechnology, all in state-of-the-art growth chambers. As members of Haskap Canada PPS has a history of producing all varieties of haskap of exceptional quality and viability…all of them prairie-hardy. Their research has focused on enhancing both micropropagation and in vivo rooting techniques to produce disease-clean trees, which could be used for the development of commercial berry orchards. Their customer service reflects the attention with which they care for both their company and their plants.

For information on their haskap you can access their site here: http://www.prairieplant.com/haskap-blue-honeysuckle.html.

Inquiries should be directed to Jennifer Kostyk at (306) 975-1207. Their email is: pps@prairieplant.com.

Meet Hamish Graham

2011-07-27T09:35:00.007-05:00

This year at both Haskap Canada's AGM as well as at the University of Saskatchewan's Haskap Day (Day 1) Hamish Graham (Heavenly Blue Honeysuckle Orchards Ltd.) showed his video on the establishment of his haskap orchard, now tens-of-thousands-of-haskap-plants-strong. It is available on You Tube and can be accessed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Ar0H_65cQ. Hamish along with partner, Ray Getz, are clearly men on a mission. Thanks for sharing this with us!

Haskap Day 2: Truly A Fruitful Adventure!

2011-07-20T09:00:00.007-05:00

Marty and Claire Elder write about the tour of their farm and fruit processing facilities near Outlook, SK, which was the featured highlight of the second day of this year's Haskap Days:

Our Haskap Days farm tour was awesome; about 40 people came to our farm on July 9th to see our orchard and processing facility as day 2 of Haskap Days 2011. There were people from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and theUSA. We enjoyed having everyone and hope you all went away with a little more knowledge about haskap and the fruit processing industry! Despite the windy day that it was, we hope everyone was able to enjoy their day with us. If anyone has pictures they would like to share with us, we would appreciate that as we did not take many pictures that day. One "little person" who was here with their mom and dad left behind a brown hoodie. If the owners would contact us, we would be happy to get it back to you.

Thanks to everyone for coming to visit, and have a great summer!

Marty & Claire Elder
Fruitful Adventure
Outlook, Sask.

Meet Bernis And Jim Ingvaldson - www.haskapusa.com

2011-07-15T07:04:00.008-05:00

Bernis Ingvaldson was a participant at this year's Haskap Day. She and her husband, Jim are currently in the process of planting a fruit orchard near Bagley, MN. She posted a wonderfully written article on her experience at the University of Saskatchewan Field Day last Friday on one of her websites. You can access it on PDF here:

http://www.honeyberryusa.com/info/2011HaskapDayUofS.pdf

In her write-up she includes links to her You Tube recording of the university's Joanna-3 Harvester at work:

http://youtu.be/QUC5OquV66E
http://youtu.be/2qhl0iKAgc0

The address for all her fruit-related sites are:

Honeyberry USA: The Honeyberry Farm (blog)
Haskap USA: Tracking Edible Blue Honeysuckles Across The USA (blog)
Honeyberry USA (commercial website)

VERY nice, Bernis!!! We'll be sure to stay tuned...

Haskap Day 1 Highlights - U of SK Field Lab

2011-07-14T09:16:00.014-05:00

This year Haskap Day at the University of Saskatchewan began with registration, a brief overview of the day's activities, and then heading to the field for touring the various research plots, a mechanical harvesting demonstration, and background and tasting of newly acquired and potential varieties. We returned in time for lunch and then listened to several presentations in the afternoon covering: research, planting an orchard, and Haskap Canada.

Here's the university's new Joanna-3 harvester that was fired up for us and about to get to work on a row of haskap...

Formalities aside, Haskap Day at the Field Lab is a great chance to meet propagators, producers, marketers, and developers. In addition to the words spoken in the field, the afternoon always provides a wealth of insight. Some of them from this year included:

- pay attention in the future to the roles of polyphenols for marketing perhaps all aspects of the plant: quercetin, cyanadin, luteolin

- that 23 days is required from flowering to fruit turning blue

- that the first and longest phase of fruit production (cell division) involves linear fruit growth and high respiration, and that in the second phase (cell expansion) respiration drops and anthocyanins are metabolized

- that anthocyanins are easily degraded with heat (e.g. boiling)

- that perhaps watering is best correlated with berry ripening?

- that perhaps diurnal differences in temperature, UV intensity, and daylight length are correlated with increased antioxidants?

- whether the red leaves in some varieties are an indication of berry anthocyanin content?

- that berry formation is directly related to available sunlight...and pruning practices might need to reflect this

-that since light is used to set next year's berry crop, it may be important to prune plants after harvest rather than waiting until next spring?

- that roughly an average of 80,000 haskap have been planted over each of the past several years.

Haskap Day - July 8 And 9, 2011

2011-06-25T09:27:00.014-05:00

This year Haskap Day will be held over two days...the first at the U of SK Horticulture Field Lab, and the second at a commercial production site.

Day 1 - University of Saskatchewan

When? Friday July 8th, 2011 from 10 AM – 3PM
Registration? Starts at 9:30 at the Horticulture Field Lab, 2909 14th Street, Saskatoon, SK
Fee? $35 goes towards the University of Saskatchewan Fruit Breeding Program

Coffee will be provided by Prairie Plant Systems (http://www.prairieplant.com/haskap-blue-honeysuckle.html)

Events include:

- Discussion of the university breeding program with Dr. Bob Bors, Rick Sawatsky, James Dawson, Tyler Kaban and Peter Riemer, along with the most current haskap research being done.
- Guided touring of research plots and the opportunity to taste test various seedlings.
- There will be a harvesting demonstration.
- Industry presentations will cover growing and planting haskap commercially.
- A marketing synopsis will be presented by Haskap Canada.
- The opportunity to talk to propagators, growers and processors regarding the current and future haskap industry.
- Make sure to sign up for Day 2...

The timetable for presentations:

9:30 a.m. - Registration and Open Discussion
10:00 a.m. - Introduction and Tour
New Plantings
Wild Canadian Plants
Russian Seedlings
2010 - Water Damage
Breeding Fields and Cultivars
Japenese Seedlings
Trials of Nursery Stock
Fruit Tasting
Johanna Harvester
12:30 p.m. - Lunch/Networking
1:30 p.m. - Neutraceutical Components
Haskap Planter
Haskap Canada Update, Q & A
3:30 p.m. End of Day

There is much is see this year at the U of Sk research plots. Three new breeding fields are coming into production which are mostly hybrids. Also there are hundreds of wild Canadian blue honeysuckles that are producing fruit for the same time. We now have a ‘Johanna 3 Berry Harvester’ which we will demonstrate on some plants provided the field is dry enough. If the fields are too wet we will at least see the harvester. Although the season was delayed by a cool May, we anticipate that the early varieties and seedlings will have optimum flavour and later types will probably look good but not be quite ready for flavour. --- Dr.Bob Bors

Day 2 - FruitFul Adventure (Marty and Claire Elder), Outlook, SK

When? Saturday July 10th, 2011, 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Registration? Must Pre-register at Friday’s event
Fee? No Charge

Marty and Claire Elder's farm - FruitFul Adventure (http://www.fruitfuladventure.ca/) - is 45 minutes south of Saskatoon (see directions below). This is an organic farm that uses over the row pivot irrigation. They grow cherries that are close to full production, and Haskap that are just starting to bear fruit. The Elder’s own a brand new processing facility capable of IQF (individual quick freezing). Come and tour a 1,500 Haskap and 7,000 cherry tree orchard. Learn about their organic practices. Watch an over-the-row harvesting demonstration. Tour a CFIA approved processing facility. A free barbecue is provided. Marty is a director on the board of Haskap Canada.

Directions from Saskatoon to Fruitful Adventure

1. Head South on Lorne Avenue till you are outside the city limits. This road becomes Highway 219.
2. Continue travelling South approximately 35 miles to the Hanley Grid #764. This grid will be marked.
3. Turn West (right) at Grid 764 and travel approximately 5 miles to where this road will curve South.
4. At the curve, turn right and continue travelling West on the correction road until you reach the river (approximately 5 miles).
5. A farm with evergreen trees will be on the right. Turn South (left) and travel to the first farm on the West side of the road, about ½ mile.
6. At the deer fence, turn West (right) on the lane...this leads to the Elder's yard.
7. To open/close gate, press Up or Down buttons on post beside the lane on either side of the gate.

----------

For on-line links go to: http://www.fruit.usask.ca/, http://www.haskap.ca/, and http://www.fruitfuladventure.ca/

Directions to the U of SK Horticulture Field lab are in this blog's sidebar

See you there!

Haskap Canada: Meet Dave Negrych

2011-05-12T09:09:00.000-05:00

Meet Dave Negrych. He lives a half hour north of Roblin, Manitoba.

Dave has a plantation of EBH cultivars from the U of S, which means he is a part of a university-sponsored cooperative project that is evaluating a wide selection of plants, some of which may have beneficial characteristics as haskap-hopefuls in the future. Of course he gets to taste the fruit from these plants in addition to various varieties of honeyberries and haskap that he also has planted in his garden over the years.

Dave has spoken at field days in the area on behalf of Haskap Canada and is always open to answering inquiries about haskap.

He currently serves on Haskap Canada's board of directors.

Haskap And Breast Cancer Research

2011-04-10T17:08:00.008-05:00

Toppling Goliath Brews has enjoyed a great deal of success recently. Last week their Golden Nugget was voted by a jury to be the best Iowa IPA. Simultaneously their Naughty 90 Oaked IPA was voted as the people’s choice for IPA in the house. And yes, I have tasted them, and yes, they are that good!

A week ago I delivered some frozen Borealis to them in person. The berry itself put smiles on everyone’s face who tasted it, and generated discussion about its compatibility and potential as an ingredient. But the details of that are for these master-brewers to later decide.

For now the little berry may provide the answer that they have been looking for as a way to colour their beer in support of breast cancer research. A single haskap berry macerated in a pint of their pale/light draft not only produces a clean, brilliant rose coloured hue in the beer itself, but it also turns the foam pink without altering the taste.

Thanks TG Brews for supporting breast cancer research and helping us find yet another very worthy use for this berry!

(If you drink, then please drink responsibly.)

Three U of SK EBH Varieties Named

2011-03-24T09:13:00.005-05:00

It was announced at the 2011 AGM last Saturday that three of their edible blue honeysuckle numbered varieties that are currently commercially available have been christened. They will now be known as:

9 - 15 - Indigo Gem
9 - 91 - Indigo Treat
9 - 92 - Indigo Yum

An Invitation To Be A Follower...

2011-03-23T10:02:00.008-05:00

In order to lead you have to first be willing to be a FOLLOWer!

It's true, we have all been tyranized by leadership which has no idea of what it means to follow. Here at Haskap Canada we are inviting you to sign up to be Followers of this blog! By Following you will be sure to be in the know about Haskap Canada's best practices and best practices in the haskap industry here in Canada. Being in the know as a Follower will make you a better leader as the haskap industry unfolds over future years. And thanks for your support! :)

(In order to sign up just go to the sidebar gadget entitled Haskap Canada Followers and follow the prompts.)

Follower pressure...

Lonicera Caerulea Now On Wikipedia

2011-03-22T14:04:00.005-05:00

Lonicera caerulea can now be found on Wikipedia. The article describes the plant, lists the different varieties, and gives a brief overview of its cultivation and uses.

Wikimedia Commons has a complimentary post.

2011 AGM Highlights

2011-03-22T07:24:00.011-05:00

Registration

Starting at 10:00 a.m. Haskap Canada members and friends met on Saturday, March 19 at the U of SK campus for our AGM.

The morning's topics included a series of presentations covering exciting research developments that have happened over the past year, as well as current technical work on which the university is working. Dr. Bors and three of his students/co-workers presented.

Haskap Canada President Paul Mitchell and Dr. Bob Bors preparing presentations

This year Haskap Canada members were invited to make presentations of their own work in the areas of: propagation, orchards, and product development.

Thanks again to the Mitchell clan a fine lunch was served that featured haskap in everything that they served. Proceeds went to Haskap Canada.

The afternoon was spent in a formal meeting that addressed yearly agenda items, election of directors, and Haskap Canada updates and future directives.

Time for visiting among growers

It was a very worthwhile meeting with some very exciting prospects for this next year. If you are interested in any aspect of haskap, then consider joining us next year!

Notice of 2011 Annual General Meeting

2011-03-17T09:21:00.002-05:00

Haskap Canada Association AGM will be held on Saturday March 19th., 2011 at 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM in Room 2E25 Agriculture Building, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. All members and interested individuals/parties are invited to attend.

There will be a cost of $20 for all attendants to cover the cost of lunch. Proceeds will go to Haskap Canada.

Please RSVP if you will attend: committee@haskap.ca

Haskap and Unusual Weather

2010-09-01T23:06:00.004-05:00

Haskap Canada is seeking information on how this year's unusual weather effected Haskap. Some parts of Canada recieved extrordinary amounts of rain. Other areas experience extreme heat. Many crops suffered with complete loss in some cases.

What was the weather like in your area and how did it effect your Haskap production? Did your plants suffer any damage? Did you notice any difference among the varieties you cultivate?

Please post a comment describing how the weather effect your Haskap.

Some Highlights From Haskap Canada’s AGM

2010-03-10T07:22:00.005-06:00

A presentation from Dr. Bob Bors on updates of the U of S Haskap Breeding program:
- information on new selections for a Haskap pollinator
- ongoing Canadian Haskap collection program
- development of relations with industry
- haskap making it onto the Olympic menu.

Haskap Canada received a preliminary presentation on an agri-marketing report. The final report will be made available to all members and to the public once completed in April. Also presented was a hypothetical business model that any grower/ processor could use as background for their own business and which will be posted on the website once the project is complete.

A summary of the activities that the Haskap Canada board undertook for the 2009 year.

Foods made with haskap that were available for lunch: turkey and pork roasts stuffed with a haskap/pecan stuffing, haskap salad, haskap rice pilaf, haskap cheese cake, and haskap ice cream.

Fourteen products were tested in a competition – with awards of the coveted wooden, plastic, and silver spoons going to the winners!

The AGM followed in the afternoon.

NOTICE: Annual General Meeting Of Haskap Canada

2010-01-16T07:03:00.005-06:00

Official Notice of 2010 Annual General Meeting

1) Haskap Canada Association AGM will be held on Saturday February 20th, 2010 at
10:00 AM to 2:30 PM in Room 2E25 Agriculture Building, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, SK. All members and interested individuals/parties are invited to attend.

There will be a cost of $20 for all attendants to cover the cost of lunch, wine and product sampling.

Please let us know if you plan to attend by sending a RSVP email to committee@haskap.ca

2) Outline of 2009 activities

The Board was actively involved in various projects and started numerous initiatives based on our association’s mandate. Here is a list of some of the activities:

· Planned and held the 2009 Annual General Meeting - February 28th. 2009. New directors: Craig Larson, Marty Elder and Doug Eryou. After the meeting everyone enjoyed Haskap deserts and participated in a Haskap wine tasting event.

· Held Directors meetings to plan Haskap Days at the University of Saskatchewan.

· Printed brochures describing our association for distribution to the public

· Attended various events under the SFGA banner: Gardenscape, SFGA field day, Haskap Days

· Attended a federal/ provincial workshop on funding initiatives: CAAP, Agri-Invest program, SAVI program

· Initiated a CAAP funding request for marketing/promotional material (Put on hold until March/April 2010)

· Checked into the opportunities with the Canadian Trade commissioner on the GOA (global opportunities association)

· Started the process with the Agri- marketing program for Canada Branding and funding for export development

· Applied for the Student Assisted Business and Marketing Plan Program for funding

3) Annual Haskap product competition

Will you be attending Haskap Canada's Annual General Meeting On Feb 20, 2010?

Are you going to the SFGA Conference (Jan 15 & 16) or live close to the University Of SK?

IF so, you may be able to obtain Haskap fruit from the U of SK to use in Our Haskap product competition as part of Haskap Canada's Annual General Meeting. Contact Bob Bors (bob.bors@usask.ca) to arrange a pick up time. There will be a charge of $10 per litre of fruit if you get it from the U of SK and a $10 entry fee.

If you have your own Haskap fruit, you don't have to buy it from the U of SK.

Proceeds will be used to fund student Haskap projects and to buy prizes for the winners of the Competition.

There will be prizes for: Most Original, Best tasting, Most Beautiful, and a Grand Prize.

Note: Bob Bors will only be selling the U of SK fruit to those who are entering the competition, so be prepared to pay your entry fee when you pick up your fruit.

4) 2009 / 2010 membership renewals are now due

Haskap In The News (No. 1)

2010-01-16T06:25:00.006-06:00

Expansion and haskaps on the agenda for FDC in 2010, Portage Daily Graphic:
http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2249314

Industry / Grower Benefits, Government of Alberta:
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/snack15896

Blue Honeysuckle Berries Gaining In Popularity Among Western Growers, Fruit and Vegetable Magazine:
http://www.fruitandveggie.com/content/view/2172/

On the Edge of a Fruit Breakthrough, Growing Magazine:
http://www.growingmagazine.com/article.php?id=3838

Learning From the Best, National Research Council:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/education/students/aventis/sabc_2009.html

The sanofi-aventis BioTalent Challenge, National Research Council:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/education/students/aventis/index.html

News Releases - Saskatoon high school student wins top honours in national biotech competition, National Research Council:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/news/nrc/2009/05/06/sanofi-aventis-biotalent.html

Le Défi BioTalent sanofi aventis, Conseil national de recherches Canada:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fra/education/etudiants/aventis/index.html

Apprendre des meilleurs, Conseil national de recherches Canada:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fra/education/etudiants/aventis/dbsa_2009.html

Communiqués de presse - Un élève du secondaire de Saskatoon lauréat d'un concours national de biotechnologie, Conseil national de recherches Canada:
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fra/actualites/cnrc/2009/05/06/biotalent-sanofi-aventis.html

Annual General Meeting - 2010

2010-01-06T06:21:00.002-06:00

The Annual General Meeting for the Haskap Canada Association will take place on Saturday, February 20th, 2010. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM and run until 2:30 PM in Room #2E25 in the Agriculture Building located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. There will be a cost of $20 which will cover the cost of lunch, wine, and other product samples.

If you plan to attend please send a RSVP email to: committee@haskap.ca.

See you there!

If You Are Planning On Planting Haskap...

2009-12-31T08:21:00.006-06:00

...then this is a reminder that only two varieties of edible blue honeysuckle qualify for this designation. Their names are: Borealis and Tundra. You will need some less-related pollinators of haskap as well. You may read about this in Dr. Bob Bors' article entitled: Pollination Strategy (http://www.fruit.usask.ca/articles/pollinationstrategy.pdf). Edible blue honeysuckle pollinators do not qualify as haskap, even though they may be in your 'haskap orchard.' And no other varieties of edible blue honeysuckles qualify as haskap, either.

Bioactive Compounds In Honeysuckle Berries

2009-12-18T05:56:00.003-06:00

The Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology published an article on 11/07 entitled: Survey of Bioactive Compounds in Western Canadian Berries. Berries native to Western Canada were analyzed for total anthocyanins, total phenolics, and trolox equivalentantioxidant activity (TEAC). It found that honeysuckle fruits contained the highest amount of polyphenols.

If you have access to a university or research subscription you can access the article, otherwise you will have to pay to access the article. One of the subscription sites is: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18066116, which provides the abstract of the article.

Thanks to Paul @ Battle River Berries - www.haskapberries.com - for the link!

Testimonial From The Vitinord Conference

2009-11-17T18:25:00.006-06:00

The following was a part of an email regarding haskap potential for wine and was sent to Bob Bors after the Vitinord Conference a week ago in Quebec. We share it with permission:

The Vitinord conference was a great time... The most interesting thing I found had nothing to do with grapes at all! The Haskap - blue honeysuckle - is a plant from Japan / eastern Russia that is incredibly hardy. I have tasted wine made from this by Jim Warren, who is consulting with a winery in Manitoba. The jam that Bob Bors brought made from this fruit was wonderful. Can't wait to get more information and perhaps plant some in Peterborough for winemaking, jam and eating purposes...

--- Larry Paterson (www.littlefatwino.com)

Haskap: U.S.A. Inquiries

2009-10-11T06:26:00.005-05:00

Haskap Canada has received numerous inquiries from people in the United States about the availability of haskap there. In response to these inquiries the president of Haskap Canada, Dave Negrych, contacted Dr. Maxine Thompson in hopes that she might assist him in tracking down contacts in that country who can supply edible blue honeysuckle. He already knew that Dr. Thompson is a researcher and does not supply plants. But he received a most gracious and encouraging response from her. We publish it here, with her permission:
__________

Dear Dave,

Yes, I am familiar with your website and blog. You folks do a wonderful job of promoting blue honeysuckle. There are several US nurseries that sell the Russian cultivars, called "honeyberries". Jim Gilbert of the nursery, 'One Green World' in Oregon has been selling this form of honeysuckle for several years and many nurseries have his selections. However, no nursery in the U.S. has the Japanese subspecies, emphyllocalyx, that I introduced from Japan... My selections are still very experimental because they are not old enough to have good information about their performance. This form of blue honeysuckle is called 'haskap' in Japan and I had hoped to retain this name specifically for the Japanese subspecies in the US in order to differentiate it from honeyberries. The two types have different climatic adaptation, with honeyberries doing poorly in moderate climate regions and Japanese forms well adapted to more moderate climates. However, I have no control over the name and I see that some Canadian nurseries are equating the 2 names. Bob Bors has decided to use it for his selections.... Bob is my friend and I have no quarrel with his choice of nomenclature.

Maxine

(Dr. Maxine Thompson)

Northern Viticulture

2009-10-10T08:09:00.003-05:00

This November the International Association of Northern Viticulture is holding a conference near Montreal. While the focus of the conference is on grapes, there may be great opportunity for haskap vintners as well to make contacts and consider other aspects of making wine where there are short, cool summers.

http://vitinord.org/Homes/index/language:eng

Government Contact Widget: New Brunswick

2009-09-29T07:03:00.004-05:00

New Brunswick is adding to the growing number of haskap growers across the nation...there are now growers in Rexton, the Acadieville region, and Fredericton. Good on ya, NB!

New Brunswick -

Crop and Regional Agri-Business Development Officer, Gerard Thebeau has attended Haskap Day in Saskatoon and grows several selections of blue honeysuckle (early prototypes from the U of S) as well as Borealis, Tundra, and Berry Blue. He hopes to attend future Haskap Days.

Gérard Thébeau P.Ag./ Agronome
Crop Development Officer / Agent de développement des cultures
Regional Agri-Business Development/ Développement régional de l'agro-industrie
26, rue Acadie/ 26 Acadie Street
Bouctouche, NB/ N.-B.
E4S 2T2
Tel: (506) 743-7330 Fax: (506) 743-7229

Fruit and Vegetable Magazine

2009-09-28T08:32:00.002-05:00

Here's a new article on haskap put out by Fruit and Vegetable Magazine:

http://www.fruitandveggie.com/content/view/2172/

2009-09-25T06:33:00.002-05:00

Two excellent articles were recently put on the Haskap Canada website.

The first article is about Dr. Artem Sorokin from Vavilov Institute in Russia. Dr. Sorokin spent a month with Dr. Bors collecting wild Blue Honeysuckle and visiting fruit farms in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Read it at: http://haskap.ca/BobBorsLectures/A%20Visitor%20from%20Russia.pdf

The second article deals with a comparison of Haskap to other berry crops. In it Dr. Bors compares Haskap with Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries and Saskatoons. Read it at:

http://haskap.ca/BobBorsLectures/Haskap%20Sister%20crops.pdf

September Fruit

2009-09-05T09:23:00.005-05:00

On September 3rd. 2009 I made an amazing discovery in the Honeysuckle orchard. Beautiful plump, great tasting berries! The July pickers had missed some berries hidden deep in the three year old Berry Blue bushes. The berries remained in tact and attached to the branches waiting to be picked until September. Is there any other fruit that ripens in June and can still be picked in September? None that I know about. Blue Honeysuckle is a most amazing fruit.

Haskap Open House - Saskatchewan

2009-09-04T07:18:00.001-05:00

On September 12th, Haskap Central Sales (http://www.haskapcentral.com/) is hosting a fall open house at their orchard near Prince Alberta, SK (Henribourg). For more information contact Curtis Braaten at: info@haskapcentral.com or (306) 764-2514.

Haskap Theft

2009-08-10T16:28:00.001-05:00

Several dozen Tundra/Borealis plants were reported stolen from a farm in Alberta this week. RCMP are investigating. If you have any information regarding either this theft or the whereabouts of these plants, Haskap Canada urges you to contact the RCMP in your area

Field Tour - Portage la Prairie, MB

2009-08-04T15:18:00.005-05:00

Prairie Fruit Growers Association (MB) will host a summer field tour in Portage la Prairie this Thursday, August 6th beginning at 2:15 p.m.. Among other fruits Anthony Mintenko, MAFRI Fruit Crops Specialist, will discuss growing blue honeysuckles. For more information contact: Anthony.Mintenko@gov.mb.ca, 204-745-5675.

First Mechanical Harvest - U of S

2009-07-30T06:31:00.004-05:00

This week preparations for the first mechanical harvesting of haskap at the U of S were made. A Joanna harvester was brought in, netting was taken down, and support posts removed. Some rows of haskap itself were also removed so that the machine could operate. (*Note: haskap plantings at the U of S are compact…made so as to best accommodate research practices, space utilization, and the needs of horticultural specialists and research technicians.)

Several rows of haskap were successfully mechanically harvested. The result was very encouraging, reported Dr. Bors. Haskap berries held up better than expected. Branches did not break even though the machine went down centre of the bushes.

At first glimpse it appeared that taller genotypes may have fared better in several respects than did short ones. Yesterday fruit was being sorted and further evaluated.

Government Contact Widget

2009-07-29T13:39:00.005-05:00

At Haskap Day, Haskap Canada became aware of provincial field plots/incentives beginning to operate in other provinces. As a result we are adding a widget that provides provincial contact information regarding haskap in various provinces across Canada. If you are not listed we would be glad to list your province's information.

Prince Edward Island -

Innovation Officer, PEI Department of Agriculture, Stephanie MacDonald cultivates and implements commodity development and crop diversification projects on Prince Edward Island. She works with clients in agriculture and agri-food industries to enhance their innovation and entrepreneurship projects. Stephanie provides advice and researches new crop production practices. She is also the industry contact on PEI for many horticulture crops including strawberry, raspberry, currant, apple, grape and haskap.

Stephanie MacDonald
Agriculture Innovation Officer
PEI Dept. of Agriculture
440 University Ave.Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N3
tel: 902-368-4862
cell: 902-314-5798

Alberta -

Robert Spencer, Commercial Horticulture Specialist, works with and supports horticulture crop producers in Alberta by providing information via phone, factsheets, newsletters, email, internet, fax, presentations and in-person (when possible). Rob tries to stay on top of developing crops and industries and pests/diseases issues.

Robert C.J. Spencer, B.S.A, M.Sc., P.Ag
Commercial Horticulture Specialist
Ag-Info Centre - Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development
310-FARM (3276) or 1-866-882-7677 or (403) 742-7563
Fax: (403) 742-7527

Sand Point, Idaho Cultivar Research

2009-07-24T06:06:00.004-05:00

A new article has just been posted from the Sand Point Research Station (University of Idaho) which is seeking to develop climate-appropriate blue honeysuckle cultivars: http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/sandpoint/Haskaps.htm.

PCDF Field Day, 2009, Roblin, Manitoba

2009-07-23T06:53:00.011-05:00

Yesterday the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation (PCDF) held its annual field day near Roblin, Manitoba. Starting with a barbecue, plot tours followed through the rest of the afternoon. Plots included demonstrations on: ancient grain, barley, wheat, hemp, forages, nitrogen runways, and canola. Development researchers presented their work and assisted participants in understanding and interpreting what they were seeing.

Jeff Kostuik is the head Diversification Technician for the site [http://www.mts.net/~pcdfnw/aboutus.htm] and did a great job coordinating the day.

Dave Negrych, president of Haskap Canada and a haskap producer himself (http://haskapwine.blogspot.com/2009/07/dave-negrych-haskap-producer.html), had been invited to give a presentation regarding PCDF's recently planted demonstration plot of haskap. Dave explained his initial attraction to the plant, the industry's development, and the plant's characteristics. He brought blue honeysuckle berries for desert at the day's barbecue.

Haskap Demo Plots /Field Days, 2009

2009-07-21T03:33:00.006-05:00

Numerous governmental agencies are beginning to run test /demonstration plots of haskap across Canada this year. If you know of field days being run in your area, please contact us so that we can alert others.

Potential haskap producers near the Parkland region can attend a field day near Roblin, Manitoba tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22nd. Potential growers may also attend a field day in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on July 23rd. Haskap plantings are parts of these tours. Here's the information:

Field Day - Roblin, Manitoba

Roblin Manitoba - Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation's (PCDF) annual field day is Wednesday July 22, 2009. Starting with a barbecue at noon followed by plot tours. The haskap demo plot will be included in the tour. For more information contact Jeff Kostuik, Diversification Technician 204-773-6178, http://www.mts.net/~pcdfnw/aboutus.htm

Field Day - Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

The Crop Research Organization of Portage, the Canada Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives will be holding a Field Day on July 23 at 370 River Rd. in Portage la Prairie, beginning at 3 p.m. by touring the C.R.O.P., CMCDC and MAFRI trials and plots. The tour will cover fruit orchard production — sea buckthorn, saskatoons, strawberries, apricots, haskap, hazelnut and the alternative crops hops and artichoke. For more information, contact the Portage MAFRI office at 239-3353.

University of Saskatchewan's Haskap Day, 2009: Images

2009-07-19T05:42:00.012-05:00

Field tours...

Plant evaluation...

Late-season berry production...

Native blue honeysuckle acquisitions...

Industry representation...

Rick Sawatzky, Horticulture Field Lab

Bob Bors, Department of Plant Science

Haskap Sales 2009

2009-07-16T06:44:00.002-05:00

Netted Russian Blue Honeysuckles and a prairie sunset

Based on the numbers that have been reported from propagators it is possible that haskap plant sales in 2009 may range from 200,000 to 300,000 plants. This number is derived from the reports of 4 major propagators. It currently appears that approximately 30% of these orders are from Quebec and the Maritime provinces and 70% are from the Prairie provinces.

We hope to see many of you tomorrow at Haskap Day ( http://haskap-canada.blogspot.com/2009/05/haskap-day-2009.html )!

P.E.I. Promotes The Possibility Of Haskap

2009-07-10T05:58:00.003-05:00

Here are two nicely written articles recently published by the government of Prince Edward Island on the possibility of haskap production there...

Have You Heard Of Haskap?, http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/af_FFnewsapr09.pdf, and, Haskap Berries A New Commercial Fruit For Prince Edward Island, http://www.peiadapt.com/2009/2apr09.pdf.

Berries Reach Veraison

2009-06-23T06:35:00.004-05:00

Honeysuckle berries are beginning to turn colour. This is known as veraison.

Fruit Sets

2009-06-09T20:06:00.003-05:00

Fruit sets have been on some of our Russian blue honeysuckles for a week and a half. In spite of the cold weather (nights near freezing and highs below 10C) the berries continue to develop.

Spring Growth

2009-06-02T12:05:00.004-05:00

Thirty-four shoots are emerging off of four original shoots on this Borealis haskap plant. Growers can expect growth in spring during cold weather. Growth will slow later in the season.

Sunofi-Adventis Biotalent Challenge 2009 Haskap Project

2009-05-31T14:35:00.005-05:00

Here is the link to the 2009 Sunofi-Adventis Biotalent Challenge research project completed by grade 12 student Kirsten Larson - http://www.haskap.ca/studies/biotech%20Project.pdf. Her project entitled, Haskap: An Introduction To The Fruit, Its Health Benefits, and Marketing Potential, won the Commercial Award for the most commercially viable project at the national competition which ran from May 4 - 6, 2009 in Ottawa.

Haskap Day 2009

2009-05-28T05:40:00.002-05:00

Haskap Day 2009: Tour, Open House, and Trade Show

Friday, July 17, 2009, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Horticultural Field Lab - University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

Haskap has joined the growing momentum of fruit production on the Canadian prairies. An excellent fruit for a harsh climate; its attributes are better understood year by year. This year Haskap Day is being held in mid-July in order to give producers and enthusiasts a chance to experience and discuss later-season fruit characteristics. Previous years have focused on: introducing haskap, plant characteristics, cultivation practices, and commercial potential.

This year for a fee of $20.00 participants can:
+See different haskap and blue honeysuckles from around the world
+Being Mid July we will see and discuss late-season haskap characteristics in the field
+Receive an ‘experimental haskap’ seedling
+Browse booths at a trade show of haskap products
+Purchase haskap varieties from propagators (the University will only sell its varieties if propagators run out of stock).
(***Note – When purchasing plants please rememberthat two unrelated plants are required for proper pollination.)

Exciting developments since last year’s Haskap Day:
+Significant planting of haskap has occurred across the prairies.
+Last October Dr. Bors gained first-hand knowledge of blue honeysuckle production and marketing in Japan.
+Dr. Bors collected 600 native blue honeysuckle plants across Canada.
+Visitors from industry and research from around the world have visited the university to see this collection and discuss cooperative efforts.
+Nutritional analysis has been performed; neutraceutical possibilities are currently under scrutiny.
+The first virtual international conference on blue honeysuckle was held in May.
+Many new growers have signed onto the university’s Grower Assisted Fruit Program.
+One of the Canadian national Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent finalists presented the benefits of haskap in Ottawa in May.

The impacts of these developments and many more, as well as the timely and important insights of growers themselves can all be discussed in an open-air forum while taking in the tastes of haskap!

For on-line links go to: www.fruit.usask.ca, www.haskap.ca

Interested in having a booth at this event? Contact Rick Sawatzky at 306- 978-8316 or email jrs263@mail.usask.ca. Booths are provided free of charge to licensed propagators, fruit associations, governmental sponsors, and educational associations. A fee of $20.00 is asked of other exhibitors who must provide their own table, unless they have arranged for a table ahead of time with Rick (possibly extra fee).

Haskap Wins Most Promising Commercial Award!

2009-05-09T20:16:00.006-05:00

In the 2009 National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge Competition in Ottawa last week, Kirsten Larson of the R.M. of Swan River, Manitoba, overwhelmingly was voted to receive the award for the project with the greatest commercial potential. Her presentation was on the neutriceutical value of haskap. She was awarded a prize of $1,000. Congratulations Kirsten, and thank you for representing us in Ottawa! Other recipients of ASBT awards can be viewed at: http://sanofibiotalentchallenge.ca/2009/05/06/smart-kids-2009-designer-wheat-research-breakthrough-wins-grade-10-saskatchewan-student-16-top-honour-in-national-biotech-competition/ . The firstplace winner was Scott Adams, a grade ten student from Saskatoon, who won with his project on 'designer wheat.' 'Smart kids' every one, indeed!

Haskap Canada Member's Website Links

2009-05-05T08:43:00.005-05:00

If you are a member of Haskap Canada and have a website that includes your production of haskap, then we would like to link to you in our sidebar! Send us your site and well will make sure that others can find you.

If you do not have a site, most internet providers will have a page that you they provide free of charge to their customers. They are usually a single page, and simple to construct. If you would rather send us your information then we will edit and blog it here and use the blog as your link.

Haskap Goes To Ottawa

2009-04-30T06:36:00.006-05:00

The Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge is a yearly competition sponsored for high school students in order to encourage young Canadians to pursue studies and careers in the field of biotechnology - http://sanofibiotalentchallenge.ca/.

This week Kirsten Larson won her region's BioTalent competition in Manitoba with her project entitled: Haskap: An Introduction to the Fruit, Its Health Benefits, and Marketing Possiblities. Not one of her judges had so much as heard about haskap. On Monday she competes in Ottawa on the national stage with thirteen other finalists from across our nation. A haskap ambassador in our nation's capitol! Congratulations, Kirsten...

Tracking The Growth Of Blue Honeysuckle In Spring

2009-04-07T11:34:00.011-05:00

On March 25th, 2009, I took a cutting from this Russian blue honeysuckle that was planted as a single sprig in April of 2007. It bore fruit in June of 2008. Our weather at the time was hovering around minus 10 C (15 F) for a high, although it had reached freezing a couple of days before that and rained. However, snow still lay heavily on the ground. The plant showed no external signs of growth. My climate zone borders on 1b - 2a.

Upon removing the outer, paper-like bark here is what I discovered.

And a dissection of the stem. The pith was already moist and seeped water.

Haskap Canada Association opens member BLOG

2009-03-30T23:29:00.003-05:00

Our Mission: Promote the production and marketing of Canadian grown Haskap.

Our Members: Researchers, Propagators, Growers, Processors, Government Agencies

Our Location: Canada wide

Our Reach: World Wide

Our Objectives:
- Promote the production and marketing of Haskap in Canada and abroad
-Assist our members in finding processing and marketing opportunities for Canadian grown Haskap
- Develop and institute a set of national standards and definitions for Haskap fruit quality and production practices
- Acquire funding for Haskap research and development
- Facilitate information and technology transfer from research programs to industry