A saskatoon berry producer says export markets for prairie fruit growers are theirs to use or lose.
John Ritz of Prairie Lane Saskatoons in Petersfield, Man., grows and buys saskatoons and processes them into food for export such as toppings, syrup and frozen berries.
Speaking at the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association conference in Saskatoon, Ritz said he spent the last two years attending trade shows and providing saskatoon samples in countries around the world.
“The world is looking for a new food experience,” he said. “It’s our industry to give away or to capitalize on.”
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He cautioned growers not to rely on government to do their development work. “Bottom line is, it’s our responsibility.”
Ritz sells his products in Canada but also exports his “taste of the Canadian Prairies” products to Europe and the United States.
He plans to start recruiting more Saskatchewan growers this winter, citing commercial prices for saskatoons at around $2 a pound. That’s higher than for most other kinds of berries, he said.
Ritz declined to talk specifics about export price and markets for competitive reasons, noting processors have already attempted to tap into his markets.
But he did say one American processor asked for 10 million pounds of berries.
Industry production is not at that level, but he predicted the creation of 100- to 200-acre saskatoon orchards on the Prairies in a few years. He noted Manitoba will triple its saskatoon acreage this year from 400 acres.
Ritz said saskatoon markets can only be helped this year by a poor blueberry crop, which saw a 30 percent increase in price last month.
Despite optimistic forecasts, Ritz said most growers remain skeptical about saskatoons’ potential.
To dispel the myths and talk “face to face,” Ritz invited growers, brokers, government and media to get together on his farm last July.
In Saskatoon, most Saskatchewan growers expressed cautious optimism about export markets. Many had mixed feelings about the $2 commercial price, with many growers getting at least twice that at their U-pick operations.
Denise Timms, a U-pick saskatoon grower at Heavenly Hill Orchard near Blaine Lake, Sask., felt Ritz was moving in the right direction.
“I think we need more of that,” said Timms, who grows saskatoons on four acres and sells berries with other growers through Saskatoon Berry Partners.
Most growers are too small to provide the volume for export markets, Timms added.
Commenting on the $2 commercial price, she suggested interested growers might need to find ways to become more efficient.
“It’s also possible to make money by reducing costs.”
Clarence Peters, a fruit specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, said growers need a main market as well as supplementary markets for excess fruit production.
He said Saskatchewan produced an average to below average fruit crop this year due to poor weather, insects and disease.
Developing new markets is an ongoing priority for the fruit growers association, said Arne Strom, who was elected president during the group’s annual meeting Nov. 21.
He said it’s a challenge for a volunteer board to take on that large task.
“We can’t afford to do it ourselves.”
The association is trying to find provincial government funding for an industry development officer to work on developing and promoting Saskatchewan fruit.
