Oppy, the multinational company based in Canada, has successfully introduced Haskap berries to customers in the Vancouver metropolitan area (Canada): this is the first time that these tasty berries are available in the Canadian retail trade.
The haskap, known in Italy as blueberry siberian or turquoise honeysuckle - Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica (English: honeyberry or blue honeysuckle, French camerise as listed on the bilingual Canadian label) is a berry with a sweet and intense taste; the flavor profile combines elements of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. The pulp has small edible seeds and the skin is thin and melts in the mouth.
The haskap is also particularly suitable as a snack for children, thanks to its size and taste, which offers an intense aftertaste reminiscent of candy.
By testing these berries with selected retailers in a limited area not far from where they are grown, Oppy has tested their shelf life in the supply chain and used the test as an opportunity to increase consumer awareness of haskap.
The taste profile of the berries and other attributes have been communicated on cards attached to each package.
"Haskap berries offer consumers a welcome respite from the usual products they've become accustomed to, and under the current circumstances a bit of novelty may be welcome," said Garland Perkins, Senior Manager Innovation at Oppy.
"Oppy is constantly looking for new varieties, which bring a lot to the table for consumers and retailers. Thanks to its versatility as a healthy snack and its culinary ease of use, Haskap berries have an untapped potential that can be realised with the right promotions and partnerships.
After successfully conducting this trial, Oppy will seek to work with its partners to expand and scale the program to meet increased interest and demand, providing differentiation in the booming berry category.
Modern haskap varieties were developed by the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) in 2000, but the super berry was originally grown in Japan for over 200 years.
Thanks to its high level of antioxidants and anthocyanins, haskap offers numerous health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties.
Despite its appearance and Italian name, botanically the haskap is not a member of the blueberries family; in fact it is closer to the tomato.
