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Processing
Primary processing takes the farm product and
puts it into a form that can be stored, transported
and readily used to produce value-added products.
Secondary processing represents further value-
added processing, such as canning, jams, jellies,
pies, syrups, etc.
Fresh product
Once Saskatoon berries are harvested, they must
be cooled or quick frozen. Fresh, undamaged
Saskatoon berries have a limited storage life. There
are no good long-term storage methods for fresh
Saskatoon berries.
If Saskatoon berries are to be sold fresh, they need
to be kept as cool as possible (0 - 5°C or 32 - 41°F),
with high humidity (90 - 95 per cent) and good
ventilation. Produce should be sold within a few
days. The berries lose their taste quickly once they
are picked.
Theoretically, it should be possible to ship
Saskatoon berries fresh into distribution networks,
but at this time, the industry has not developed to
that point. At the moment only local markets such as
farmers’ markets or U-pick operations can provide
fresh fruit.
Freezing
At present, most Saskatoon berries are frozen
and shipped to various markets. The majority of
Saskatoon berries are bulk frozen in boxes lined
with food grade plastics. For some markets, one
disadvantage to bulk frozen berries is that the
berries usually stick to one another, and customers
must thaw and use an entire box of berries all at
once.
Figure 102. A Saskatoon farm shipping container
for Saskatoon berries, which also includes other
marketing information.
Photo: Bob Bors
Berries can also be individually quick frozen (IQF)
or flash frozen by setting up an additional step on
the post-harvest line. The conveyor belt carries
the individual berries into a freezer where they are
subjected to forced cold air. By the time fruit reaches
the end of the line, each berry is frozen.
This method is more expensive than bulk box
freezing, but some markets prefer individually frozen
berries that can be poured to whatever quantity is
needed for products, where it is important to have
individual berries rather than a mash of fruit.
Value-added products
While producing fruit for sale can generate some
cash, further processing of the fruit as an ingredient
to create other products can greatly add value to
the crop. Saskatoon berries can be used to make
pies, tarts, jams or as an ingredient in fruit drinks,
vinegars, wine, vinaigrettes or chutney. These
products may be sold fresh, frozen or in containers.