Haskap berries debut in Vancouver retailers
Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppy has successfully trialed Haskap berries in select Vancouver retailers and plans to expand the program.
The flavor of the Haskap berry “combines elements of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries,” and the fruit has “a tangy finish reminiscent of candy” and contains three times the antioxidants and four times the anthocyanins of blueberries, according to a news release.
“By trialing the berries with select retailers in a limited locale not far from where the berries are grown, Oppy tested how well the fruit held up in the commercial supply chain, its longevity, and used the trial as an opportunity to increase consumer awareness of the Haskaps, which also recently appeared in Edible Vancouver magazine,” Oppy wrote in the release.
Each case of the fruit included a header card with information about the taste of the berries and other attributes.
“Haskap berries offer consumers a welcome reprieve from the usual produce items that they’ve grown accustomed to, and in the current circumstances a little bit of novelty can be welcome,” Garland Perkins, senior manager of insights and innovation, said in the release. “Oppy is continually looking for new, under-the-radar varieties that bring a lot to the table for consumers and retailers.
"Thanks to its versatility as a healthy snack and its ease of use from a culinary perspective, Haskap berries have plenty of untapped potential that can be realized with the right promotions and partnerships," Perkins said.
