What is a Haskap Berry

The haskap berry is a growing craze in the superfood community, and for good reason! This incredibly special berry is native to northern climates, and is renowned for its incredible health benefits, deep purple colour, and multitude of uses! What's even better, there are a few incredible local producers in and around Lethbridge growing the berry and using high nutrient density to power their products!

So, what’s so amazing about the “gem of the north?” Well quite a bit, from its high antioxidant content, to its ability to help increase blood circulation and reduce swelling. This berry has been hailed for both its taste and its ability to help support a healthy lifestyle.

The beautiful berry contains high levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, and Potassium, all in a small blue package packing a blueberry mixed with black currant and raspberry punch. With such a high nutrient content in such a simple and small berry that is easily consumed fresh, there is boundless potential for not only its benefits, but its delicious uses. 

Haskap berries are normally found throughout the wet transitional areas of northern territories, with a large majority of its recognition and products popular in Japan. Its name can be translated from the language of the ainu people of ancient japan to mean, Berry of long life and good vision. It seems that only the people in ancient japan knew about the incredible benefits of the haskap berry. At least until  we in the great north got wind of its existence. Now we have multiple growers and producers here in Southern Alberta!

Prairie Hill Farms is one of the haskap producers located just outside of Lethbridge. This family run farm is now harnessing haskaps to create super powders, used to help fuel the lives of regular people and athletes alike. Not to mention a wide variety of syrups and sauces. Being one of the biggest producers in the region, you can also bet they are constantly working to develop new ways to work this incredible super fruit into other products so that everyone can enjoy their benefits.

A “Little” haskap berry farm is run by the men of Little Gem Winery. At the little Gem farm, these fine berries are harvested and turned into incredible alcoholic beverages. From a wide selection of wines to their haskap cider, these incredible berries are doing grapes' work in a land where grapes would never grow. The best part: the wine and cider are just as good, if not better, then their non-haskap counterparts. 

This is just a small overview of this incredible berry, and what our region is doing to innovate its uses! If you want to learn more about the berry and get a hands on experience, why not try heading out on Canada’s Food Tour? This easy self-drive-tour will help you learn about and experience the magic of local produced Southern Alberta food, just like the haskap berry!

Don’t forget to share all your incredible haskap pictures and favourite local haskap product finds with us on social media using #ExploreLethbridge!