Haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea) also called blue honeysuckle, honeyberry, sweet berry honeysuckle, and edible honeysuckle are a new and exciting fruit crop for Canada. The University of Saskatchewan is the only Canadian institution doing breeding of Haskap. At this time, "Haskap" is reserved for the two high quality varieties of Lonicera caerulea developed by the University of Saskatchewan, Tundra and Borealis.
Canadian haskap is extremely hardy (Zone 0) and well suited for a Saskatchewan orchard. Blossoms appear in early May in Saskatchewan, and can take -7°C to an open flower without damage. Haskap is also the first fruit crop of the season to ripen. The ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ berries begin to change colour in early to mid June and are ripe 7 to 10 days later during a normal year. The skin has a natural blue waxy coating called “bloom” which is similar to blueberries or concord grapes. When fully ripened, haskap berries are red on the inside and retain their deep color after processing. The berries are suitable for fresh-eating and also for many processed products from jams to wine. They appear to have few insect pests and diseases making Haskap an ideal crop for organic production.
