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DNA Garden Berry Festival
August 8th saw the FGSA (Fruit Growers Society of Alberta –
www.albertafruit.com)
Berry Festival in full swing. The
weather was cool and cloudy, threatening rain but it did not dampen the
festivities. Just under 300 people
enjoyed the festival held in Elnora hosted by DNA Gardens.
The activities were numerous and well received.
A hay wagon cycled all day. The
wagons were always full and people seemed to enjoy Martine Bolinger’s
commentaries as she explained various horticultural concepts as she wove through
the test orchard. 17 different
types of saskatoons were examined among other plants.
The good crop of SK Carmine Jewel cherries made for extra nibbling and
sampling in the field.
Fun and education was featured. A top notch roster of speakers had sessions through out the
day. Topics included the latest
information about new fruit varieties such as the University cherries and the
Russian honeyberries. We were
fortunate to have Forest Scarf come and speak.
Forest worked at the University of Saskatchewan with the cherry breeding
program. Forest is now on staff
with Alberta Food and Rural Development.
Dr. Evans, plant pathologist spoke generally on fruit growing.
Chris Neeser, Alberta Agriculture Fruit specialist spoke about the
nutrition of our prairie fruit. Arden
Delidais, nurseryman spoke about
honeyberries. Many questions were
answered and people left being much better informed about the wonderful crops we
grow.
The Elnora firefighters started the day out from 9 till
noon with a scrumptious breakfast of sausage, eggs and pancakes featuring , you
got it, local grown prairie fruit
toppings. PNP donated toppings for
the firefighters.
DNA Gardens had samples of black currant sorbetto (Italian
fruit ice) made by a company from Calgary called Fiasco Gelato on 17th
Av. Just scrumptious is the only way to describe. Free samples were also on hand of a juice made from the
U of S cherries. The nutrition of
both these berries was brought home with handouts.
Cherries are good for arthritis and gout and black currants are great
tonics being good for the circulation system.
Val Papworth of Roaming River Orchard
had a lovely cabana in the trees where she treated visitors with samples
of their Black Currant wines.
Other vendors sold black currant juice, saskatoon pie,
buffalo burgers and organic preserves.
The FGSA served ice-cream Sundaes featuring locally grown and prepared
toppings of wild black cherry, saskatoon
and U of S prairie pie cherries.
2 fiddlers delighted spectators and the appearance of
the life size Toonie mascot thrilled the kids.
Children also enjoyed the children’s activities.
Activities involved such things as making stone creations complete with
feathers.
A draft manual of the University of Saskatchewan
Commercial cherry production manual was on display.
Release is scheduled for October of 2004.
Many thanks to the visitors. A special note of thanks to the sponsors and vendors whose
turn out helped show case our prairie fruit.
Following is a list of participants:
Dave Turta – Northern Horticulture Equipment – Calmar, Alberta
Kubota Dealer -
Sponsor (many thanks)
Fragrant Perennials –
plants and raku pottery – Elnora, Alberta -
Lady Bug Organics – Jeanette Jones – vegetables
PNP (Prairie Natural Processing) – donor – Red Deer –
black currant juice – 403 773-2489
Home Style Beverages – Saskatoon pies – Bowden, Alberta
Roaming River Ranch – Val Papworth –
Black currant wine - Lethbridge –
DNA Gardens – plants – 403
773-2489
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