Poland Visits Haskap Day

Dr. Stanislaw Pluta led a delegation from Poland at this year's Haskap Day.  He is a researcher at the Research Insititute of Horticulture located at Skierniewice.  Here is a link to one of his black currant presentations (PDF file):  Blackcurrant Production and Breeding in Poland.  He expressed how interested growers in Poland are in haskap and spoke briefly in the afternoon.  It's nice to see this international interest.  Thank you for attending!

Second Helpings: Cooking With Haskap

Second Helpings: Cooking With Haskap, by Loretta Bors and Lil Sawatzky

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IRAP Speaks At Haskap Day: Grants Available To Qualified Haskap Growers

At Haskap Day 2015 Colleen Christiansen outlined the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) which offers federally funded governmental grants to qualified haskap growers/marketers.  She also highlighted several important provincial programs to which haskap growers may apply as well.  Here is an outline of what she presented along with links.  Thank you, Colleen!

There are a number of government programs that small and medium sized businesses can access in Canada.  The Government of Canada lists all areas of support on the following website http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/contact/#.  In Saskatchewan there is a federal/provincial agency called "Square One" which supports small business start ups as well as growth of existing small businesses.  Square One has recently created a list of all programs available to entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan http://squareonesask.ca/skbizgrid/.

The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) of the National Research Council of Canada has two methods to help small and medium sized business in Canada.  One program is the Concierge Service http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/concierge/index.html.  This is a single access point that anyone can call to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about all of the programs that exist in Canada.  The second method is through working with Industrial Technology Advisors to connect with the funding programs of IRAP  http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/services/index.html 

In Saskatchewan the Ministry of Agriculture also has a program to assist small business called SAVIhttp://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-SAVI 

Although the list of government programs is long and it may seem confusing, each program has been designed for a reason. Each program has specific goals and rules regarding eligibility of projects and expenses within projects.  The best plan is to contact someone who works for the program to find out what is the best for you and your company according to the goals and plans you have for your company.  

If you have any questions about IRAP, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Colleen Christensen, PhD, PAg, ProDir
Industrial Technology Advisor
Industrial Research Assistance Program
National Research Council
Saskatoon
Colleen.Christensen@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
306-975-4972

Joanna Harvester Demo