You know that feeling when you start seeing them? Those beautiful little berries on the branches, plumping up, hints of deep purple beginning to show. It\u2019s happening! For us, this year, it\u2019s extra special because one of our arts and food systems innovation projects involves following the progress of these berries right from early spring through to their late summer harvest.<\/strong> We’ve been capturing their journey through photography and weaving their growth into our storytelling, and now, we’re almost there! It won’t be long now before we’re out there, buckets in hand, picking in earnest. This year\u2019s crop looks absolutely promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For us, the Saskatoon berry isn’t just\u00a0any<\/em>\u00a0berry; it\u2019s a taste of home, and of summer. If you’ve never tried one, imagine something subtly sweet, with a hint of almond and a lovely juiciness, kind of like a cross between a blueberry and an apple. They’re actually super hardy, native right here to North America, especially thriving across the Canadian Prairies. And get this: their name, “Saskatoon,” comes from the Cree word\u00a0mis\u00e2skwat\u00f4mina<\/em>. How cool is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond tasting amazing, these little powerhouses are packed with good stuff too \u2013 loads of antioxidants and fiber. They’re incredibly versatile in the kitchen, showing up in everything from delicious pies and jams to muffins and even savoury dishes. But honestly, the best way to enjoy them? Fresh off the branch, warmed by the sun. There’s just nothing quite like it. This project has given us a whole new appreciation for their resilience and beauty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Get ready for picking season!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Saskatoon berries are plumping up. Discover this versatile Canadian fruit, perfect for picking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":47753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,20],"tags":[559,503,165,199,332,232,236,239,288],"class_list":["post-47754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-security","category-photos","tag-food-innovation","tag-food-security","tag-manitoba","tag-northwestern-ontario","tag-ontario-arts","tag-sdg11","tag-sdg15","tag-sdg2","tag-winnipeg"],"yoast_head":"\n