Visitors wandering onto Bernis Ingvaldson’s Honeyberries USA u-pick operation might look a little dazed. She says, “The first thing I do is walk up to them and ask, ‘Have you had your honeyberry today?’ ”
Haskap (Lonicera caerulea), also known as honeyberries, are a delicious and nutritious early-season honeysuckle fruit that survives Siberian cold and can sell for up to $9 per pound. They have no thorns and few significant pests other than powdery mildew and hungry birds—the cedar waxwings are downright fiendish.
Ingvaldson was one of several growers at the first-ever Honeyberry Academy sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension and Extension at the University of Wisconsin. Around 100 honeyberry enthusiasts toured Haskap Minnesota, a honeyberry farm near Stillwater, on July 1, then networked over honeyberry ice cream and candy. Ingvaldson provided fresh berries so participants could see and taste different varieties.
Pioneering University of Saskatchewan plant breeder Bob Bors was a featured presenter, as was Zach Miller from the University of Montana. Annalisa Hultberg, University of Minnesota Extension educator, shared Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for food safety during growing and harvest.
Collaboration among growers
Participants came from near and far, including experienced fruit growers who drove from Ohio with a list of questions, which quickly drew a multitude of answers, ideas and stories from other growers. Honeyberry-curious visitors, including some home gardeners, took pages of notes and left with big plans.
“I learned from my mentor, Phil Stowe of Walking Plants Orchard in Osakis, and I bought my first plants from Bernis,” says George Terwey, Haskap Minnesota owner.
Terwey was excited to open his farm to others, especially hoping that emerging and immigrant farmers would take an interest.
The honeyberry community is small but expanding as consumers discover the taste, described by Bors as a cross between a blueberry and a strawberry with a special zing. Growers welcome newcomers to meet the demand for all sorts of berries.
Ingvaldson, who has been growing honeyberries, saskatoons, sour cherries and more for over 10 years in Bagley, says, “Other u-pick berry farms in my area, we brag each other up and send customers each other’s way.”
United effort to share knowledge
Extension systems in Minnesota and Wisconsin work together for mutual benefit, as well as with the Dakotas, Iowa, other states and, in this case, with Canada.
Madeline Wimmer, University of Minnesota Extension fruit educator, says working with Wisconsin is efficient and effective because educators have different focus areas. They complement one another and share knowledge regarding cold-hardy fruit.
“Some of the top fruit crops here are apples and grapes,” says Wimmer. “With honeyberries, it’s been wonderful to work with Josie Dillion, my counterpart in Wisconsin, and the UW emerging crops team, like Steffen Mirsky, who made this conference happen.”
“There’s so much knowledge to be shared among growers—so many stories about how they are doing things a little differently,” says Dillon. “It helps fruit growers when Extension understands what they need. It’s been really nice to connect with Madeline on making sure we can meet those needs.”
More about honeyberries
Read about the Honeyberry Academy from Wimmer's perspective, as well as information about honeyberry biology, pollination needs, pest management and harvesting practices on the Fruit and Vegetable News blog.
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