Government Contact Widget: New Brunswick

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

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

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

September Fruit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fruit Sets

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

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

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

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!

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!