5 Small Fruit Crops: Taste Sea Buckthorn (and Smell the Blue Cheese of Fruit)

Fruit
Written By Steven Biggs

Talking about how to grow sea buckthorn, highbush cranberry, hardy kiwi, bush cherries, and chokecherry

Specialty Fruit Crops

We continue our chat with agronomist Laurie Brown from Cultur'Innov. She talks about 5 more minor fruit crops, how to grow them, and the opportunities they present for growers.

We talk about:

  • Sea buckthorn

  • Highbush cranberry

  • Hardy kiwi

  • Bush cherries

  • Chokecherry

  • Agroforesty

  • Tips for growers who want to grow specialty fruit crops

"It's the blue cheese of fruit: Tastes like a cranberry and smells like an old boot!"

Co-operative Model

Cultur'Innov is a co-op focused on lesser-known fruit, nuts, and forest crops such as ginseng and mushrooms. This Quebec multi-stakeholder co-operative has both farmers and employees as members. 

Agronomist Laurie Brown from Cultur’Innov

The co-op helps its farmer members with different aspects of production:

  • Understanding crop opportunities

  • Setting up for a crop

  • Growing the crop

  • Processing opportunities

Want More on Wild Fruit?

Expert Interview

In this episode, we chat with forager Robin Henderson, who forages highbush cranberry, sumac, elderflower, and more!

Robin Henderson on Wild Fruit and Foraging
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Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

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