iN PHOTOS: Six delicious berries growing in Okanagan, Kamloops
There are numerous kinds of juicy berries growing in Kamloops and the Okanagan in early summer each with bright colours, unique flavours and packed with nutrients.
While some berries like raspberries are more common to find growing in gardens, others like haskap berries and gooseberries are less so, but all of them are used in recipes and jams, or just as a healthy snack on their own.
Haskap berries are native to BC and grow on a deciduous shrub called haskap. The berry is the same colour as a blueberry and has an oblong shape. It has a tangy flavour with notes of raspberry, blueberry and black current, according to Haskap Farms.
An excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins C and A, fibre and potassium, haskap berries have been eaten by Indigenous people in Japan for centuries where they are called the “fruit of longevity.”
Gooseberries grow on spiny or prickly shrubs almost everywhere in Canada except in the far northern regions. They vary in colour and can be green, yellow-white, pink, red, or dark purple, and their flavour ranges from tart to sweet, according to Health Line. The berries are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, two kinds of B vitamins, copper, magnesium and potassium.
Gooseberries can be eaten raw, but are also used in cooked and baked dishes, including pies, tarts, chutneys, compote, jams and cordial.
Saskatoon berries grow on a native North American shrub that grows between one and eight metres high. The berries are small and purple coloured and have a sweet, nutty flavour. Saskatoon berries are one of the best sources of vitamin B2 which is needed to turn food into energy.
Saskatoon berries are eaten fresh or dried, and are used in pies, wines, jams, beer and trail mixes.
Blackberries are a native fruit that grows well in many parts of the province. Dark blue to black in colour, the berries have a sweet yet tart flavour and are packed with so many nutrients they are considered a superfood, according to Health Line.
The berries are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, fibre and manganese and are commonly eaten raw, blended in smoothies and on salads.
Native to Europe and northern Asia, raspberries grow across the country on perennial, bushy plants and can be red, yellow, black or purple. They have a sweet, tangy flavour and are packed with vitamins C, E and B, along with potassium, fibre and several trace minerals.
A fruit that isn’t commonly seen is a Tayberry, which is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. The size and colour of a large raspberry, the Tayberry is sweet with flavours of both combined fruits and are known to make especially tasty jam. This hybrid originated in the UK decades ago and can be grown in milder regions of the country, including BC, according to the BC Fruit Tasters Association.
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