U of SK Announces Two New Haskap Selections

The University of Saskatchewan has announced the pending release of two new haskap selections, Boreal Beauty and Boreal Blizzard.  Larger in size and mid-to-late season, these berries can hold the potential for bountiful fruit production throughout the summer.  These will be available in 2015/2016.

Caps For Sale: Haskap.ca

24 caps will be for sale at the U of SK Haskap Day.  They will be sold at cost simply as a promo: $12.00/cap.

2014 AGM: Come And Join Us!

The date for the 2014 Annual General Meeting of Haskap Canada is set for 9:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 29.  Registration for the meeting will take place on the day of the meeting.  The location of the meeting will be posted in the lobby of the Agriculture Building on the University of Saskatchewan, 51 CampusDrive, Saskatoon, SK.  The morning will feature various speakers (to be announced); the AGM will begin at 1:00 p.m..

To be addressed at the AGM are resolutions regarding new rules governing not-for-profit organizations. Nominations will also be accepted for the board of directors' open position(s).  Updates on various research findings on the crop and topics such as pollination will be discussed earlier in the day.

See you there!

U of SK, Campus Map (PDF) (Agriculture Building, map location @ 5D, Building #5, parking available under building, entrance to the west of building)

Haskap Wine?

Here's a link to a page (PDF) on the University of Saskatchewan's fruit website showing the results of Peter Reimer's work on producing haskap wine.  He writes...

A small but serious fruit wine industry is beginning to emerge in Saskatchewan.  This is due, in part, to recent legislation which aims to nurture successful grape, and non-grape, cottage wineries.  These wineries are driving a search for fruit which is reliably productive, and hardy, while resulting in a quality fermented product.  Some of Saskatchewan's fruit wine makers have discovered Haskap, and are beginning to see the full potential of the fruit...read more here

Check out this PDF for a great haskap wine recipe!

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (6)

Afternoon Presentations

Bob Bors - U of SK breeding program update
James Dawson - Neutriceutical/Phytochemical discussion
Loretta Bors - Development of cookbook
Curtis Braaten - Raised bed planting
Cory Sheffield (unable to attend) - Pollination Study
Hamish Graham - Hydroplanting
Haskap Canada - Update
Open Forum

*Anyone with recipes for haskap and would like them included in the cookbook is encouraged to contact Loretta Bors (lorettaborsathotmaildotcom)or Lil Sawatzky (lilymaeatsaskteldotcom).

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (4)

Field Evaluation of Plants and Fruit

This is a mature edible blue honeysuckle berry from an edible blue honeysuckle plant that is native to Canada.

These plants (below) were collected from all across Canada...some even emerge with red leaves in the spring...does this indicate different anthocyanin composition?

If neutriceutical value is found in the skin of fruit, does that mean that odd-shaped varieties, such as this one of Japanese parentage, have a greater health value?

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (2)

Orchard Tour

In the field participants were able to see and taste the results of the U of SK's selection program, and to listen to the grounds for selection while standing in the midst of the huge number of individual genotypes that have been carefully watched and considered throughout the growing season as possible parent-stock for future vigourous, winter-hardy, and tasty varieties.

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (1)

If you did not attend, we missed you!  What would you have experienced if you had been there?

Morning Field Tour

Field Tour
Field Fruit Tasting
Special Observation: Hybrids, Native Canadian, Japanese, Russian Varieties
Mechanical Harvesting Demonstration
Pruning Methods

Lunch - Pizza

Afternoon Presentations

Current Research
Raised Bed Planting
Recipes/Cookbook
Pollination Study
Hydroplanting
Haskap Canada Update

Over the next several posts the highlights of these will be briefly touched upon...