by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org

Click on images to enlarge them.

In northwest Montana, wild huckleberries rule the berry world. (Never mind that what we call huckleberries are not actually huckleberries at all, but rather a species of blueberry. I realize I could be shot for saying this.) But lately, another berry–this one cultivated–has been making its appearance in the West Valley area–honeyberries.

Wild honeyberries (Lonicera caerulea) are a species of honeysuckle (blue-berried honeysuckle) that is native to circumpolar cool temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. The fruit is also known as Haskap, from the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan where it was an important staple in their culture. They are very adaptable to a variety of climates and soils. They thrive in soils from 3.9 – 7.7 acidity and are tolerant of temperatures down to -53˚ F. They do require full sunlight and do best in soil that is rich in organic matter. They’re often found in wetlands. They are resistant to many diseases and pests. In some Asian countries they have a role in traditional medicine.

Berries resemble elongated blueberries. They can take many shapes, from oval to cylindrical to bell-shaped depending on their variety. Their taste has been described as a cross between a blueberry and a blackberry, although in my limited experience with local cultivars I’d put them much closer to blueberries. They’re nutritional powerhouses–high in polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. And they’re sweet.

Cultivation of honeyberries is fairly recent, beginning in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Cultivation efforts in Asia, Scotland and Canada have produced more than a dozen cultivar varieties. They are still largely unknown in the US, although their popularity is growing due to their adaptability to various zones, disease resistance, nutritional benefits, and high yields. I’m not aware of any wild honeyberries in Montana.

Here in the West Valley, there is a new honeyberry farm on Farm To Market road just north of the Pig Farm state lands. It’s called Big Sky Honeyberries, and in addition to selling to local shops and restaurants, you can pick your own berries from their more than 10,000 bushes. David Dunn from Big Sky Honeyberries was kind enough to answer a few questions about his operation.

Q: When did you establish your farm?

A: The land was bought as raw land in 2012. Berries began that mission in 2018.

Q: Roughly how many plants do you have?

A: 10,000 plants, eight miles of rows on approximately 15 acres.

Q: What is the best time for picking honeyberries?

A: Early to mid July is peak season.

Q:  I understand that honeyberries are a cultivar of a species of honeysuckle that can be found in northern latitudes. It looks like there are a number of varieties of cultivars. Do you have a specific one that you use, or do you have several?

A: I have “aurora” (2 to 1) with a “honeybee” pollinator in the front pasture. They are ripe first. About 1-2 weeks later my back pasture is ripe, with “borealis beauty” pollinated by “borealis beast.” The other half of the back ~10 acres is “borealis blizzard” pollinated by “borealis beast.” Cross pollination is essential for proper fruit development. (Editor’s note: Borealis beauty, borealis beast and borealis blizzard are honeyberry cultivars.)

David also provided me with some photos, all of which are better than the ones I took.