Haskap, a nutritious berry, trends across Saskatchewan

Move over, blueberries -- theres a new super berry in town. Its called haskap, and its gaining popularity across Saskatchewan.

The berry can appear purple or blue in colour, and is often the size of a persons thumb tip. The University of Saskatchewan has been breeding the berry to make tastier varieties on the prairies since 2001. The groupreleased their first varieties in 2007.

Bob Bors, the head of the University of Saskatchewan breeding program, says the berry tastes like a mix of blueberries and raspberries when theyre good. The bad varieties, he says, taste like tonic water.

While the berry is native to Saskatchewan, Bors says the breeding program had been going for four years before they realized it already existed in Canada. The native form of the berry is smaller than a pea, says Bors. It grows close to wetlands and has an early growing season, so few people discover it.

An appealing fruit to grow

That early growing season makes it perfect for people who want to have fresh garden fruit early in the year. The berries are ready for picking before strawberries -- usually in June.

People are also raving about the high number of antioxidants, and the high levels of Vitamin C, making it rival blueberries as a nutritious fruit.

Haskaptakes off at Regina Farmers' Market

The University of Saskatchewan breeding program expects to have sold more than a million haskap plants by the end of this year. Farmers and gardeners across the province have begun to grow it. At Reginas Farmers Market you can buy the berries when they are in season, or find them in jam.

Perry Senft planted 30 trees of haskap in his orchard. He says its a pricey berry, so he mixes it with rhubarb for the jam he sells at the Farmers Market.

Its hard to describe, but the seeds in it are very small like a kiwi. The flesh is real sweet and the skin is a little bit tart," said Senft."But when we mix it with the rhubarb it doesnt really make it any tarter, it just gives it a good flavour.