Our Story
In 2014 we decided that we wanted to do something with our property – and in searching for cool weather berry ideas we came across Haskap Berries.
The problem was that they weren’t being grown in Australia and it seemed that the Canadians were leading the world on their development.
The name, ‘Haskap Berry’ was coined by the Canadian University of Sakatchewan from the Japanese name Haskappu.
Sometime later we discovered that in the USA they’re called ‘Honey Berries’ and considerable research on them from Russian varieties was occurring there.
We began our activities with enquiries to the Tasmanian Quarantine authorities to be told that the only practical way to have the plant brought into the country was via seed.
We found a source of seed, and after Quarantine inspection gave the supply to a highly recommended nursery to propagate for us. Some time later they informed us they had no success with them and had confused them with Raspberries.
Another batch of seed was subsequently obtained and given to Woodlea Nursery in Scottsdale, Tasmania. This nursery put in a concerted effort and had some success. At that point in time, we realised that our source of seed was not good.
In 2017 our research discovered that the University of Saskatchewan was hosting a conference on Haskap Berries in Saskatoon Canada which we attended.
Whilst there we obtained fresh seed from a grower.
We also attended a harvesting display and were given permission to take berries that had fallen on the ground. These were put through a blender mix and after tedious hours of picking them from the pulp and drying them we had a sufficient supply to bring home with us.
We should add that we had Agriculture Department forms that enabled us to bring them into the country and we did declare them with customs!
By this time, we had read sufficient to be confident about propagation ourselves and with the fresh seed we have had considerable success.
But here’s the challenge
Haskap Berries do not grow true to type from seed – only via cuttings and tissue culture.
The end result is that we have had a lengthy process of propagating, evaluating the seedlings and plants for plant vigour and then after a couple of years evaluating the fruit set in terms of quantity and taste.
After establishing the plants in our shade-house, several hundred were transferred to the paddock to ascertain how they would fare in the Tasmanian climate - especially the summer.
The reason for this is that we were cautioned a number of times in Canada about the fact that having originated in Siberia, Northern Hokkaido and Russia, the Tasmanian Mediterranean style of climate could be unsuited for them.
In evaluating the plants, the outcome has been that some have shown great promise.
Some have not grown well, some have fruit with a taste akin to quinine, others unpleasantly sour and others mildly tart.
It is a slightly tart berry - with a tartness somewhat similar to raspberries.
While we were in Canada, we were most fortunate to form a friendship with a Canadian couple, Doris Butler and Axel Hvidberg who had a highly successful Haskap Berry nursery and orchard in Salmon Arms, British Columbia.
A year or two later they visited us at harvest time and helped us evaluate plants via tasting the berries. These were selected as starters for sending to a tissue culture laboratory for replicating.
As at October 2021 the first batch of tissue cultured plants are expected to be available around about early 2023. We then need to grow them on and should have them available after 10 weeks.
Touring a research station in Canada