Haskap berry growing in popularity in Saskatchewan

Move over Saskatoon berry Saskatchewan might have a new favourite fruit.

According toCurtis Braatenfrom Haskap Central, the haskap berry, also known as an edible honeysuckle,is becoming popular in the province.

"Most people get a cross between araspberry-blueberry. Some can taste the elderberry in there," Braaten said.

"My flavour of what it tasteslike to me, it just tastes like ahaskap. It is anextremely complex flavour."

• Haskap, a nutritious berry, trends across Saskatchewan

Braatensaid the berry is already well known in Japan and some parts of Russia, but researchers at theUniversityof Saskatchewan have helped develop a number of new varieties of the plant here in the province.

It's generally one of the first berriesgrown during in a season and it typically does well growing in northern Saskatchewan.The bulb of thehaskapberry can even withstand a bit of Canadian cold.

As of last fall, Braaten said there were around 2 million plants in the ground in Canada.

Haskap foodies

Braaten said the berry isalsoinspiring chefs because of its complex flavour.

"Last year, we had fillet mignon and it was encrusted with haskapinfused goat cheese and then they set that fillet on top of a puddle of haskap gravy," he said.

Tomorrow kicks of a three day haskap workshop in Saskatoon, where people are invited to learn more about the fruit.

The third annual Haskap dinner will also take place on Friday at the Sheraton Hotelin Saskatoon.