FRUIT
My orchard is very young, so I likely won't have a lot of fruit in 2019, but I will include what I can in the Vegetable Bags.
Storage and preparation information can be found with varieties below.
Fruit Varieties
HASKAPS
Haskaps (aka Honey Berries) originated in Japan. The University of Saskatchewan has recently bred varieties that are delicious and grow well in the prairies. I grow a mixture of Tundra & Borealis varieties, as well as their accompanying pollinators.
Haskaps are sweet and also quite tart and taste a bit like a blueberry crossed with a tart raspberry.
Store haskap berries in the fridge in a container.
They can be eaten out of hand, but due to their tartness, may be more enjoyable in a fruit salad, dessert, or used in savoury dishes.
Find haskap recipes here.
SASKATOONS
A regular but super-delicious variety of saskatoon berries.
Store saskatoon berries in the fridge in a container. You know how to eat them.
Find saskatoon berry recipes here.
PLUMS & CHUMS
I grow both plums and chums (cherry/plum cross). Chums are smaller than plums and have a sweet cherry/plum flavour.
Plums & chums can be stored on the counter if unripe and moved to the fridge once they have ripened.
Plums & chums are great for fresh eating or can be added to desserts & savoury dishes.
Find plum & chum recipes here.
GOOSEBERRIES
Not your grandmother's gooseberry, the newer varieties of gooseberries are much sweeter and delicious for fresh eating. I grow Hinnomaki & Pixwell varieties.
Not to be confused with the caped gooseberries that you may have had as a garnish on your brunch plate, these gooseberries grow on a very, very thorny bush.
Store gooseberries in the fridge in a container.
They are great for fresh eating, or added to salads, desserts or savoury dishes. Some berries may have the stem or blossom still attached. They are edible, or can be removed prior to eating.
Find gooseberry recipes here.
RHUBARB
A mixture of my grandmother (Martha's) heirloom rhubarb and Canada Red Rhubarb.
Store rhubarb in a container or bag in the fridge. Don't wash it until immediately before eating or cooking.
Rhubarb can be eaten raw (I've heard of people dipping it in sugar and chewing on it, but I've never done it), or cooked and eaten in a variety of desserts and savoury dishes.
Rhubarb leaves are considered toxic and should not be eaten.
Find rhubarb recipes here.
RASPBERRIES
A regular but super-delicious variety of red raspberries.
Store raspberries in the fridge in a container. You know how to eat them.
Find raspberry recipes here.
STRAWBERRIES
I grow both white (pineberries) and red strawberries. Pineberries are white with a blush of pink and red seeds and have a bit of pineapple-like flavour.
Store strawberries in the fridge in a container and wait to wash until immediately before eating.
I recommend eating these guys fresh and so there are no recipes.