Cherries

PICKING & STORAGE TIPS

The darker the colour of the fruit, the higher the sugar content. Red berries will not taste as sweet. We pick only the darkest berries for optimal taste.

Saskatoon Berries are a soft fruit and, therefore, will crush if picked into a container that is too deep. An ice cream pail is the deepest type of container that you would want to use.

In order to keep the Saskatoon Berries fresh for as long as possible, it is important to cool them thoroughly as soon as possible without placing them in water. Picking during the cooler parts of the day will help too. Only wash the berries as you use them (you may not need to wash them at all). The presence of water on the berries will cause them to expire more quickly. The berries need to be kept in the fridge until you are ready to use them if you are not freezing them.

Saskatoon Berries can be picked and frozen for use later on.

INTERESTING FACTS & HISTORY

Our Saskatchewan-grown Saskatoon Berries begin ripening anywhere from July 7th to 14th depending on the weather and usually last until the start of August (sometimes into August if the weather isn't very hot).

Saskatoon Berries grow wild across the Canadian Prairies. There are many varieties that have been licensed for growing developed from wild fruit with the most widely known varieties being Smoky and Theissen. We grow the Northline variety. Other varieties are coming all of the time. As a native fruit, the Saskatoon Berry has many native pests and diseases to contend with and occasionally need to be sprayed in order to get any crop at all. Most years we do not have to spray our Saskatoons.

Saskatoon Berry bushes are actually classified in the Pome (Apple) family. Plant breeders have previously grafted the Saskatoon varieties onto Cotoneaster roots but since the entire bush is hardy to Saskatchewan that practice was over with long ago.

Saskatoon Berries are very healthy for you. They are comparable to blueberries in that they have high levels of antioxidants and anthocyanins which aid in prevention of various forms of cancer. They are also higher in fiber than blueberries.

SASKATOON BERRY SLICE RECIPE

8 cups fresh or frozen Saskatoon berries 2 cups graham wafer crumbs

1 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup rolled oats

2 cups hot water 1/2 cup butter or margarine

3 oz fruit glaze 1/2 cup sugar

Combine crumbs, oats, butter, and sugar; reserve 1/2 cup crumbs to sprinkle over cake. Pack the rest firmly in a 9 x 13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool.

Stir glaze into 1 1/2 cups sugar, mix well. Gradually add hot water; whisk until smooth. Stir in Saskatoons. Pour over base. Sprinkle rest of crumbs on top. Chill at least 1 hour. Garnish with whipped cream.