Saskatoon Berry

 

The Saskatoon berry, also known as the Serviceberry, Juneberry, and Shadbush, is a wild plant native to Western Canada. Saskatoon berries grow in Canada from the Great Plains to the British Columbia coast. The berries are especially well known and productive in the BC Southern Interior and the Alberta foothills. The name Saskatoon originates from the First Nations Cree noun misâskwatômina. The berries grow on a deciduous shrub, 1-3 meters tall, with clusters of white flowers that bloom from April to June. The fruits are medium-sized, fleshy dark bluish, and are generally sweet and juicy. The berries have a sweet, earthy flavor with a rich almond/marzipan undertone due to the flavor of the seeds. They are rich in iron and vitamin C with antioxidant properties comparable to blueberries. Indigenous peoples traditionally used Saskatoons as a major food source, pounding the berries into a thick paste that was spread on mats to slowly dry into a form that could be stored over the winter. This paste was eaten plain and also mixed into stews or with bear fat or eulichan grease.

Wild Saskatoon berries are under serious threat in Western Canada due to loss of habitat caused by housing and industrial development. As the plants are lost, so is the historical knowledge and practice of gathering the berries carried out for generations by First Nations people. Protecting the wild Saskatoon berry is important not only for the continued existence of the plant itself but also, perhaps more importantly, for the continued existence of the historical knowledge and practices associated with the gathering of this wild food.

 

Where to source:

 

Saskatchewan

The Berry Barn
306 978 9797
830 Valley Rd.
Saskatoon, SK
http://www.360saskatoon.com/Restaurants/TheBerryBarnRestaurant.html

Symmetree Orchard
306 372 4954
Symmetree Road
Luseland, SK
http://www.symmetreeorchard.com/

Very Berry Farms
306 536 9694
at intersection of Highways #1 & #48 (east side of White City), exit to north service road; 1 km east, 2.7 km. north
(please see website for driving directions)
info@veryberryfarms.com
http://www.veryberryfarm.com/

Prairie Berries
306 788 2018
Box 21
KEELER SK
prairieberries@sasktel.net
www.prairieberries.com

Available for purchase:

Chocolate Moose Fudge Factory
306 692 4647
108 Main Street N.,
Moose Jaw, SK

SaskMade Store
306 955 1832
1621 8th St. E,
Saskatoon, SK

Peg’s Kitchen
306 781-2830
1653 Park St.
Regina, SK

The Strawberry Farm
306 384 4842
325 Valley Road
Saskatoon, SK
info@strawberryranch.ca
http://www.strawberryranch.ca/

Crocus Grove Berry Farm
Highway 5 East and Pit Road (see website for driving instructions and map)
http://www.crocusgroveberryfarm.com/contact.html

 

British Columbia

Saskatoon Berry Farm
250 743 1189
1245 Fisher Road
Cobble Hill, BC
toonfarm@yahoo.com

Please see this further extensive list of berry growers and their vending locations in Saskatchewan: http://www.saskfruit.com/modules.php?name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=42

Alberta:
Please see this link for a list of farms which grow Saskatoon berries:
http://albertafarmfresh.com/searchresults.aspx?fruit=saskatoons

Manitoba:
Please see this link for a list of farms which grow Saskatoon berries:
http://www.pfga.com/pick-saskatoons.asp

Ontario

Ovens Berry Farm
613 826 2147
4205 Nixon Drive
Osgoode, ON
ovens@ovensberryfarm.com
http://www.ovensberryfarm.com/

Also available at:
The Swan on Rideau
Corner of Roger Stevens Drive and River Road
Osgoode

Giant Tiger
1168 Maple Street
Manotick

MacEwan Gas
Corner of Highway 43 and River Road
Kemptville

Metcalfe Farmers’ Market
613 821 0591
2821 8th Line Road
Ottawa, ON
http://www.metcalfefm.com/

Rowen Farms Saskatoon Berrys
519 443 5317
121 Robinson Road
Waterford, ON
rowenfarms@hotmail.com
http://www.localharvest.ca/farm/rowen-farms-saskatoon-berrys

Bayfield Berry Farm
519 482 1666
77697 Orchard Line
Bayfield, ON
berryfarm@tcc.on.ca
http://ontariofarmfresh.com/member-pages/bayfield-berry-farm/

Brooks Farm
905 473 3246
122 Ashworth Rd.
Mount Albert, ON
info@brooksfarms.com
http://www.brooksfarms.com/

Also available at:

Newmarket Farmers’ Market
905 830 8983
Located at the corner of Doug Duncan and Timothy St.
info@newmarketfarmersmarket.com
http://www.newmarketfarmersmarket.com/

Aurora Farmers’ Market
Town Park on Wells St between Mosley St. & Metcalfe St.
info@theaurorafarmersmarket.com
http://theaurorafarmersmarket.com/

Spruce Ridge Farm
519 785 0016
22450 Thomson Line
Rodney, ON
Chatham
http://www.harvestontario.com/detail.php?id=4753

Saskatoon Shrubs & Seedlings

Saskatchewan
Select Seedling Nursery
306 978 1940
Box 1A, RR#3
SASKATOON SK
info@selectseedlingnursery.com
http://www.selectseedlingnursery.com/saskatoonberry.html
(varieties available : thiessen, smoky, martin, northline)

Alberta
The Saskatoon Farm
403 938 6245
From Okotoks, going north on 2A, turn east at the top of the hill (large animal clinic or watch for our neon sign) and travel 8km straight east (passing over #2 highway). The road will lead you right to us, follow the signs.
Okotoks, AB
saskfarm@telusplanet.net
http://www.saskatoonfarm.com/
(only available for pick-up at the farm, varieties include smoky, northline, and thiessen saskatoons)

TreeTime.ca
1 866 873 3846
204-9366 49 St. NW
Edmonton AB
url: http://treetime.ca/products.php?tagid=56
comment: (varieties available: northline, martin, smoky, and thiessen)

Thanks.

Ontario
Henry Field’s Seed and Nursery Co.
519 768 3941
9353 Graham Road
West Lorne, ON
service@henryfields.ca
http://www.henryfields.ca/
(shipping only)

Grobe’s Nursery and Garden Center
519 648 2247
1787 Greenhouse Road, R.R. #2
Breslau, ON
info@grobenursery.com
http://grobenursery.com/

Lost Horizons Nursery
519 853 3085
We are located on Highway 7, two miles west of Acton, on the south side. From the 401, take Highway 25 north and go west on Highway 7 to Crewsons Line. We are on the south west corner of Highway 7 and Crewsons Line.
Acton, Ontario
http://www.losthorizons.ca/
(variety available: smoky)

Sheridan Nurseries
Multiple locations :

Mississauga/Oakville
Etobicoke/East Mississauga Georgetown,
Toronto, North York, Scarborough,
Markham/Unionville,
Whitby,
Kitchner,
Waterloo,
and farms distributors.

See website for links to location information and contact:
http://www.sheridannurseries.com/events_and_locations
(varieties available: thiessen, honeywood, and smoky)

Humber Nurseries
905 794 0555
8386 Hwy. 50
Brampton, Ontario
humber@gardencentre.com
http://www.gardencentre.com/