New berry shows health promise

A new berry being introduced to farms in eastern Canada is proving to have some potentially exciting health benefits.

'The berries taste good ... That they're actually healthy for you, well, that's an add-on.' Don Northcott, Phytocultures

Researchers at the National Research Council have found the haskap berry to be high in antioxidants, with twice the level in the much-touted blueberry. The berry, popular in Asia, is being made available commercially for the first time by Phytocultures of Cornwall, P.E.I.

"They almost look like a cylinder with square ends, the skin is blue and it's a powder blue," said company founder Don Northcott.

It looks a little like a blueberry, and tastes something like a raspberry. Northcott was attracted to marketing the plants for their taste and because they are well-suited to the eastern Canadian climate: frost resistant with an early crop.

"The berries taste good, they look good, that was my initial reason for getting into this," he said.

"That they're actually healthy for you, well, that's an add-on."

Researchers have recently found there are high levels of polyphenyls in haskap berries, antioxidants that can protect against cancer. Paul Neima, a researcher the National Research Council in Charlottetown, is also finding other possible benefits.

"They can also potentially be an anti-inflammatory, or may have application in helping to fight obesity and diabetes," said Neima.

"That's the area of research that we're moving into with them now."

There are about six hectares of haskap being farmed on P.E.I. this year, and Northcott said interest is growing.

"We're in the area of about 20 people that are either taking larger plots of this, or taking 20 or 30 plants home and doing an experimental evaluation on their farm," he said.

In Asia the berry is popular for making wines and jams. Northcott said fresh berries and jams could be on the market in eastern Canada soon, but health related products will have to be approved by Health Canada, which could take a few years.