What are haskap berries?
Haskap berries are a dark blue oval berry with an interior texture like a kiwi. The botanical name is Lonicera Caerulea. The native blue honeysuckle plant is found naturally in Siberia and Northern Japan, where the waxy, green bushes have grown without cultivation for centuries. The first introduction of the cultivated plant to Canada was at Beaver Lodge, Alberta in the 1950s. The fruit was bitter and not palatable. It has been found in the wild in every province in Canada except for British Columbia.
Haskap berry advancements
Dr. Bob Bors and his team at the University of Saskatchewan have been breeding haskaps since 1998. The goal of the program is to make bigger, better tasting varieties that can thrive throughout the Canadian growing conditions for both home gardens and commercial farming. The team started with four varieties from Oregon State University and by 2008, Saskatchewan had the most diverse collection of haskap berry seeds in the world. The name haskap was chosen as the brand name and has been applied to new varieties bred by the Fruit Program at the University of Saskatchewan. There are several haskap varieties ranging from tart to extremely sweet in flavour and oval to round in size.

Growing and harvesting haskap berries
Depending on the haskap variety from the program at University of Saskatchewan, the size of the shrub and berry can differ, along with the taste. The plants and fruit are resilient to several weather and growing conditions along with pests, except for birds. Birds love to eat the growing and ripe berries and can almost completely strip a shrub of fruit in just a few hours. Therefore, it’s important to have protective nets and decoys to keep the birds away.
Also, it is necessary to understand that haskap plants are self-incompatible, which means that the do not self-fertilize. As a result, they need another haskap plant of a different variety that blooms at the same time for cross-pollination. The shrubs produce small, yellow, tubular flowers in early May with the fruit ready to harvest in early June into mid-summer, depending on the amount of seasonal sun and rain. It is often the first thing to flower in the spring, as well as the first fruit to ripen. Haskaps are easy to grow and work well in urban yards as well as commercial farms, with Quebec leading the way since 2007. It’s worthwhile to note that it may take up to four years for the plant to bear fruit. But once it does, the plant can produce for 40 years!
It is a harvest that fits between other berry crops, such as blueberries and raspberries, while allowing for efficient land use. When it comes to commercial harvesting, haskaps can be labour intensive. Due to the berry’s shape and softness, it can blemish with a mechanical harvester. The Aurora variety seems to be the most compatible for mechanical harvesting. Other varieties may require speciality equipment for picking, plus, the berries may need to be sorted and cleaned by hand.

What do haskap berries look and taste like?
The haskap berry has dark blue-purple skin colour. The interior flesh is a dark red when they are ripe with a texture like a kiwi. The shape is mostly oval to rectangular; however, some varieties can be rounder. Each haskap berry contains twin berries inside it. The haskap flavour is tart to sweet, depending on the variety. The taste is often described at a blend of blueberry, raspberry, black currant and cranberry.
In July 2022, I was fortunate to be invited to Saskatchewan for a farm tour 2022. During my visit, I had the chance to eat haskap berries fresh from the bush. I was hooked! I soon became competition for those pesky birds vying for those unique, delicious ripe berries!
Why haskap berries are good for you
Haskap berries are nutrient dense. They have fibre, antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and calcium. These nutrients support digestive, immune, brain and bone health. Haskaps are gaining recognition for their specific health benefits in fighting chronic diseases, including cancer and diabetes. More human clinical studies are needed to further demonstrate the specific relationship of haskap berry consumption and their health benefits.

Haskap berries beyond cobbler
Haskap berries can be used like most other berries. Fresh, frozen, freeze-dried, in smoothies, in baked goods, made into jams, jellies, fruit candies, beverages, beer, wine, liquor and the list goes on. Fresh off the bush, they are delicious! In frozen form, the nutrients and flavour hold up well. Freeze-drying the berries captures the flavour and nutritional content and are easy to store and use. Research is being conducted at Dalhousie University to extract and evaluate the berry’s active compounds for potential uses in the natural products industry.
The future of haskap berries
Interest in haskap berries is growing. Are you now thinking you want to plant a haskap berry bush in your own garden? Haskap berry commercial farming is on the move across Canada. As it scales up, more research needs to be dedicated to growing different haskap varieties, including general agronomics and post-harvest characteristics and conditions. There are numerous associations and groups across the country, including the Haskap Canada Association (HCA), Haskap Alberta Association, The Haskap Berry Growers Association of Ontario and Haskap Producers Canada collaborating and strengthening the understanding of the best growing practices, pest management and market strategies.