berry qty discount

Species: Amelanchier x wiegandii (likely a hybrid of A. arborea and A. sanguinea)

History: There is little information on the origin of Isaac although it is believed to be a cross between the Common Serviceberry (A. arborea) and the Roundleaf Serviceberry (A. sanguinea). It was likely selected for its large, sweet berries.  

Why We Grow It: Isaac produces very large berries with a lovely sweet flavour. Like other serviceberries they are great for fresh eating, cooking, baking, and preserving. Isaac makes a nice ornamental shrub with its rounded shape and white blooms in the spring. It is generally an adaptable and cold hardy plant as well!

Species: Rubus occidentalis

History: Jewel black raspberries were bred by Cornell University in New York in an effort to create productive and vigorous black raspberry varieties. It was bred in 1954 as a cross between Bristol and Dundee black raspberries.

Why We Grow It: Black raspberries are a special treat with less tang than red raspberries, and more of that musky sweetness that black berries (mulberries, blackberries, etc.) have. Steph eats these berries by the handful - delicious! This variety produces nice clusters of sweet juicy berries. The plant itself reaches about a meter high and wide. It can spread over the years, creating a most delicious fence line if you let it!

Species: Hippohae rhamnoides

History: Lord was developed by Latvian professor of agriculture, Andrejs Bruvelis, and was likely selected for its relatively few thorns and excellent performance as a pollination partner for female plants. 

Why We Grow It: A vigorous and strong pollinator, Lord has silvery green leaves which may be used as animal fodder- rather than discarding prunings from the plant, try feeding them to birds, or better yet, let some chickens keep the base of the bush clean and sucker-free by purposefully pasturing them through your plants. Sea Buckthorn have nodules on their roots which help fix nitrogen into the ground, and are a common plant in permaculture orchards for this natural 'fertilizer' effect on plants in their vicinity.

Species: Amelanchier alnifolia (aka Western Serviceberry)

History: Martin was grown by Dieter Martin in Saskatchewan. He selected this variety for its large berries and uniform ripening time.

Why We Grow It: Martin produces deep purple berries that are both flavourful and juicy! The berries are on the larger size and ripen at more or less the same time, making them a good choice for mechanized picking.

Species: Hippophae rhamnoides

History: Mary sea buckthorn, aka Marija Bruvele, is a Latvian variety that was bred by professor of agriculture Andrejs Bruvelis as a cross between the female varieties Botanicheskaya Ljubitelskaya, Chuyskaya, and native male plants from the coastal area of the Baltic Sea. The goal was to create a variety better adapted to maritime climates. The berries are high in oil content so this variety tends to be grown commercially for oil production.

Why We Grow It: A prolific variety that holds onto berries well, prolonging harvest for 4-6 weeks. The berries have a milder flavour compared to other sea buckthorns with much lower acid content. They can be made into a sunshine yellow juice, best diluted 70% with water for a Canadian version of orange juice. It's also nearly thornless, which makes harvesting much easier.

The leaves and young branches are suitable for animal fodder, which we can attest to from the hens that run around our retail area in summer, sampling from our potted sea buckthorn plants whenever Steph isn't around to chase them away. Sea Buckthorn have nodules on their roots which help fix nitrogen into the ground, and are a common plant in permaculture orchards for this natural 'fertilizer' effect on plants in its vicinity.

Species: Aronia melanocarpa

History: McKenzie was created by the USDA who, in 1976, planted several seedlings of the variety to evaluate its performance. It was named 'McKenzie' in honour of its first planting site in North Dakota, possibly named after McKenzie County specifically. The variety was officially released in 2008.

Why We Grow It: McKenzie boasts vigorous growth and good production, reliably producing firm blue-black fruit that is tart with an earthy taste. The berry clusters are easy to pick and have a wide range of uses! While the berries ripen in August, they can hang onto the bush for a couple months and tend to sweeten over time.

Species: Actinidia arguta

History: Meader hardy kiwi likely originated in Korea and was brought back to New Hampshire by botanist Edmund Meader, after whom it was named, in the 1960s. Meader has become one of the most common varieties of hardy kiwi since.

Why We Grow It: Meader is a male hardy kiwi, making it excellent for pollinating female varieties like Geneva and increasing pollination for Issai. Meader produces lovely flowers, but no fruit.

Interested in some more in depth info? Check out this article from the Maine Organic Gardeners and Farmers Association. 

Species: Vitis sp. (hybrid)

History: Montreal Blues is one of the many varieties created by renowned grape breeder Elmer Swenson in Osceola, Wisconsin, as part of his effort to breed cold hardy grapes suitable for growing in the colder climates of North America. This variety was released in 1998 and in some areas is also known as St. Theresa, named for Saint Therese of Lisieux who was a French nun who planted flowers to show her love of God. 

Why We Grow It: This variety produces large clusters of blue, Concord-like grapes with a nice, mild sweet flavour. They are quite cold hardy and can be made into pies, jams, or juice!

These grapes got mixed up and are either Brianna or Osceola Muscat, but you won't know for sure until they bear their delicious fruit! Unfortunately it's too hard to tell the distinct difference with young plants, so we're offering them at a great discount to those who enjoy a little mystery! 

Species: Vitis vinifera x V. rupestris x V. ripraria x V. labrusca (Osceola Muscat) OR Vitis riparia x Vitis labrusca (Brianna)

History: Both Osceola Muscat and Brianna grapes were bred by renowned grape breeder Elmer Swenson in an effort to develop grapes that grow well in cooler climates. 

Why We Grow It: Both of these grape varieties are seeded green grapes. Osceola Muscat produces loose clusters of seeded, intensely aromatic grapes with notes of peach and apricot. Meanwhile, Brianna boasts excellent complex fruity flavour that has hints of grapefruit and pineapple. Both varieties are relatively vigorous and hardy, and you can't go wrong with either one!

Species: Aronia melanocarpa

History: Nero was created in Russia by plant breeder Ivan Michurin in either the late 1800s or early 1900s. Likely selected for its large fruit and sweeter flavour, Nero is still used commercially in Russia to this day. 

Why We Grow It: Nero produces ample clusters of dark berries that are somewhat sweeter and less astringent than other aronia varieties, making it more favourable for fresh eating. Like other aronia berries, it is ideal for baking, cooking, jellies, etc. While the berries ripen in August, they can hang onto the bush for a couple months and tend to sweeten over time. The plant itself is tough and cold hardy.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum x V. angustifolium

History: Northblue was bred by the University of Minnesota as part of a hybrid blueberry breeding program that started in 1967. The goal of the program was to cross highbush and lowbush blueberries in order to create high-quality cold hardy varieties. Of the three varieties initially created in this program, Northblue was noted for having the largest fruit and highest productivity. Northblue was introduced to the public in 1983. 

Why We Grow It: Northblue produces nicely sized, firm blueberries that store well. The berries have a good sweet flavour akin to that of wild blueberries and are great for a variety of uses. The compact shrub is quite productive and cold hardy.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum x V. angustifolium

History: Northcountry was bred by the University of Minnesota as part of a hybrid blueberry breeding program that started in 1967. The goal of the program was to cross highbush and lowbush blueberries in order to create high-quality cold hardy varieties. Northcountry itself was created in 1968 and was introduced in 1986.

Why We Grow It: Northcountry produces small to medium blueberries with a sweet flavour akin to that of wild blueberries. For those looking to enjoy fresh blueberries as soon as possible each year, this variety is an excellent choice since it ripens quite early. The compact bush is also quite cold hardy and productive!

Species: Amelanchier alnifolia (aka Western Serviceberry)

History: Northline was developed by John Wallace at Beaverlodge Nursery in Beaverlodge, Alberta during the 1950s. Selected for its large berries and good flavour, Northline was later introduced in 1960.

Why We Grow It: Northline's large, sweet purpley-blue berries are excellent enjoyed fresh! Northline grows in an upright fashion and reaches about 2.5m tall, this making for an ideal u-pick bush. The fragrant showy flowers add aesthetic charm to the bush, along with the deep green foliage which turns fiery orange in the fall. Saskatoons by nature are slow growing, and while they will bear fruit in 3-5 years, it can take up to 15 years for a full crop.

Species: Rubus sp.

History: Nova red raspberries were developed at the AAFC Research and Development Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia as part of a breeding program. They were bred as a cross between Southland and Boyne raspberries and released in 1981.

Why We Grow It: These nearly thornless canes bear a plentiful yield of bright red, large-sized berries. The finer textured fruit is less crumbly and has a bold flavour. Nova red raspberries are very hardy and are summer-bearing in colder climates and ever-bearing in warmer ones!

The second product photo shows Nova (right) compared to Heritage (left).

The third photo shows a Heritage and Nova raspberry tart Steph made!

Species: Rubus occidentalis

History: Ohio's Treasure was developed by Dale Stokes and Dr. Harry Schwartz in an effort to create an everbearing black raspberry. The original cross was made in 2006 and the seedling was grown on a raspberry farm in Wilmington, Ohio. Successful in their efforts, the variety was released in 2015. 

Why We Grow It: Ohio's Treasure produces medium-sized black raspberries with an excellent sweet flavour. Ohio's Treasure is unique amongst black raspberries in that it is an everbearing variety, producing a main crop through late summer into fall and then another crop on the second year wood in July, around when Jewel ripens. Although not firm enough for largescale commercial shipping, this is an excellent variety for the garden or local market growers who want to extend the black raspberry season.