The World's Best Information, Hands-On Learning: U of SK Haskap Day 2014 (Part 5)

For the hour following the field tour a forum was held that allowed Haskap Day participants to formally present/interact with one another.  The day was over by 4:00 p.m..  Hats and shirts sold well.  A few are left over.  Shirts are lg/xlg @ $11, hats (red only) @ $12.  ...plus shipping.  Contact: ebhbasics@gmail.com

Thanks to the U of SK for once again hosting the event, and to the Hort. Lab field staff for their time and teaching!

http://haskap.ca

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html

The World's Best Information, Hands-On Learning: U of SK Haskap Day 2014 (Part 4)

By the time that lunch was over the sky had cleared and the sun was beginning to shine through the clouds.  Because of the heavy rain the night before we walked the tour and were picked up on the farthest point of the tour so that we didn't have to walk all the half mile back to the starting point.  Seventy-five paid participants were accompanied by Bob Bors, James Dawson, Bayartugla Lkhagvsuren and Ellen Sawchuk.  There is always a lot of interaction among participants in the field...one of the highlights of attending!

The Joanna-3 harvester was demonstrated, although not on plants because of the saturated field conditions.

We moved on to the next-generation group of selections; plants were lush, heavily laden with fruit, large, and varied widely in berry characteristics.  Each year participants are given the opportunity to mark plants that they consider to be of a superior taste; this year was no exception.  We next toured and tasted the selections that Dr. Bors acquired from the wild on his search across Canada several years ago.  And we ended the tour viewing and tasting the youngest of the bushes along with the original "9" row that produced their first commercial 'haskap'.  It should be remembered that haskap is an edible blue honeysuckle that was selected for superiority in many traits: berry size, shape, flavour, sweetness, not bleeding when picked...bush shape, size, rapidity of growth...etc..  As in all genetic selection, it is easy to select improvements in the next generation based on only one or two traits; it becomes mulch more complex and complicated when you are trying to select for many traits simultaneously.  The U of SK program proves that this is not only possible, but that it requires enormous effort, skill, and perseverance to do so...the proof is in the field!  Come see for yourself next year!!!

http://haskap.ca

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html

The World's Best Information, Hands-On Learning: U of SK Haskap Day 2014 (Part 3)

Following lunch we walked the 35+ acres of haskap plantation at the University of Saskatchewan's Horticulture Field Lab on an interactive tour guided by Dr. Bors, accompanied by his field staff.

Before describing the tour itself, here's a constellation of commonly repeated words/phrases spoken by participants while we were tasting and comparing...

...good growth, such big fruit, good selection of flavours, 
delicious, amazing, size, taste, wow!...

I think that it would be fair to say that participants were literally bowled over by the plant growth, plant size, berry size, and ridiculously bountiful amount of fruit on the plants this year...

http://haskap.ca

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html

The World's Best Information, Hands-On Learning: U of SK Haskap Day 2014 (Part 2)

Having heavily rained the night before the order of the day was switched so that the presentations occurred in the morning and the orchard tour would happen in the afternoon.  With weather clearing later in the day this worked out very well.

Dr. Bob Bors began the morning sessions at 9:15 a.m., providing a general overview of the haskap program, starting with a brief, historical background, and progressing up to the current/future direction of research.

Next,  Bayartugla Lkhagvsuren presented his work on the ecology of wild haskap, which so far has included a review of the available literature on edible blue honeysuckles in Russia.  Speaking Russian, he has made an invaluable contribution in translating Russian texts, even though many of these articles are not peer-reviewed.  He also spoke to the geographic locales of haskap prototypes, as well as the implications of this for historical haskap biology.

Next, PhD candidate James Dawson presented the developments of his continuing research on haskap neutraceutical compounds, reminding Haskap Day participants of the need to not speak of the benefits of anti-oxidants, but of the specific components contained in the plant and how they actually function in the human body.  Additonally, he indicated that these benefits may not come simply from the fruit itself.

Dr. Bors finished the morning presentations with some interesting side-lights on what is generally known: the manner in which haskap flowers can survive freezing temperatures, cautions about how many honeyberries have simply been re-named by vendors, the effects of pruning, and the relationship between hard science and the way in which science is appropriately an art in the continued development of their fruit program.

http://haskap.ca

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html

The World's Best Information, Hands-On Learning: U of SK Haskap Day 2014 (Part 1)

Integrating the best haskap research in the world, and providing the opportunity for active participant interaction, the University of Saskatchewan once again hosted their annual Haskap Field Day yesterday.  Here's a snippet showing their Joanna-3 (Weremczuk/Poland) harvester in operation.  Due to heavy rain the night before they were unable to demonstrate actual berry harvesting as they have in previous years.  However, here is a video clearly showing just how the machine works...

http://haskap.ca

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html

2014 Haskap Day - July 18

One week from today the University of Saskatchewan will once again host its annual Haskap Day at its Horticulture Field Lab located on 14th St. in Saskatoon, SK..  All seven haskap fields will be on the tour which leaves from the lab at 9:15 a.m..  Bob Bors will provide a research and breeding update at 1:00 p.m., and will be followed by James Dawson's presentation on the neutraceutical value of haskap fruit.  Then Bayartugla Lkhagvsuren will speak on the ecology of wild haskap and haskap plant nutrition.  A grower forum will end the afternoon session.

*Note: If it has rained in the past week please bring boots that are suitable for walking in heavy, wet clay in the field.  Park along the south side of 14th Street, please.  Registration is $25 and begins at 8:30 a.m..  Pizza for lunch will be available for a cost of $5.

http://www.fruit.usask.ca/articles/Haskap%20Day%202014.pdf

Shirts For Sale: Haskap.ca

50 T-shirts will be for sale at the U of SK Haskap Day.  They will be sold at cost simply as a promo: $11.00/shirt.