Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (3)

Pruning

Pruning trials are currently under way.  Three methods are being tested: bottom trimming, centre trimming, and bonsai styles, respectively...

  

U of SK, Haskap, And North American Market

2011 AGM Highlights

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!

First Mechanical Harvest - U of S

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.