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 producers in and around Lethbridge growing the berry and using its high nutrient density to power their products!

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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.

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The beautiful berry contains high levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, and Potassium. These benefits all come in a small blue package packing a blueberry-raspberry-black currant punch. With such a high nutrient content in such a small berry, there are endless ways to make use of its health benefits and delicious taste.

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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 until we in Canada got wind of the haskap, only the people in ancient Japan knew about the incredible benefits of this berry. Today, we have multiple growers and producers here in Southern Alberta!

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Prairie Hill Farms is one of the largest haskap producers in Southern Alberta, and lucky for us, they are 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. As one of the biggest producers in the region, they are constantly working to develop creative ways to work this incredible super fruit into new products so that everyone can enjoy their benefits.

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Southern Alberta also contains the “little” haskap farm 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 delicious 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. 

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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 locally produced Southern Alberta food, just like the haskap berry!

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