Saskatoon Berry Picking Tips

While some of our customers at Berries by the Bay are former prairie folk like us, who have fond memories of picking wild saskatoons in the bush in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, we also have many folks come out who have never picked saskatoons before. I wanted to provide some picking tips to those of you who are new to picking saskatoon berries. If you are an experienced picker and have any other suggestions to add, we would love if you contributed by commenting below!

Picking Tips: 

Even on the same bush, Saskatoons will ripen at different stages, so it is important to be discerning if you want the best tasting berries! Not all of the berries on our bushes are fully ripe yet, so here are some tips to help you with your berry picking:

Colour is important! Berries that are still white, pink, or bright red are underripe. Ripe berries will range from a darker red to a deep purple or navy hue.  

Feel: Berries should easily pull off the stem when pulled. They should feel nice and plump, while under-ripe berries will feel more firm and give resistance when trying to remove from the plant. 

Lastly, taste! Underripe berries will have a more bland, less sweet taste to them, while ripe berries will be flavourful and sweet. The darker the berry, the higher the sugar content, so make your picks accordingly!