Three Juneberry Questions Answered by Jim Ochterski

Q: Commercial juneberries and saskatoons
are exactly the same fruit. Why two different
names?
A: The term “saskatoon berry” or “saskatoon” is a
predominantly Canadian term for this tasty, dark
berry that has spilled over to Michigan and a few
other communities near the US-Canada border.
Elsewhere, including North Dakota, Minnesota, and
the Northeast US, we are using the term “juneberry”
because of the close relationship with our native
juneberry. From a marketing point of view, the name
“juneberry” conjures it’s ripening season, a favorable
early summer-ness, and offers an easy-to-remember
/ easy-to-say word. There has been some mild
cultural tension with Canadian saskatoon growers, so
we often use both terms now. The Saskatoon Berry
Council of Canada now uses the term “juneberry” in
their marketing to the US.
Above: Juneberries approaching Harvest. Photo: Jim
Ochterski.
Q: Can I take juneberries from the woods in
New York and plant them?
A: The wild juneberry (or serviceberry or shadbush)
you would find naturally around woodland edges is a
species known botanically as Amelanchier
canadensis. The species that has been domesticated
for fruit production in Canada and now New York
Amelanchier alnifolia.
For farming, A. alnifolia has a lot of advantages over
A. canadensis. It was cultivated from wild plants on
the Canadian prairies more than 80 years ago, and is
known widely there as the Saskatoon berry. The
variety ‘Smoky’ was selected due to its exceptional
flavor in the 1950s.
Amelanchier canadensis (wild juneberry) is native to
the Eastern United States and has been cultivated
primarily for ornamental and wildlife-attracting uses,
but not necessarily for human food. Some individual
plants may produce full-flavored berries, but currently
yields are often comparatively low, and inconsistent
with flavor compounds.
Q: Now that juneberries are being grown
more commonly in New York, what are the
most common problems most growers are
experiencing?
A: Bird damage. Cedar waxwing, American robin,
and European starling are the main culprit species.
Ripe juneberry plantings require full-force bird
deterrence for a couple weeks: noise makers,
distress calls, scary eye balloons, pop-up figures, and
netting if necessary. Use the same bird deterrence as
any other fruit grown in NY.
In 2014 there was partial crop loss due to cracking
with extra rain in late June. As the damp 2014
summer growing season has lapsed, we are seeing
notable levels of Entomosporium leaf spot (fungal).
T
This post was taken from the August issue of NY Berry News. You can find the full issue at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/nybn1307-pp8sdj.pdf.

Avatar of Sarah Diana Nechamen

Sarah Diana Nechamen

Posted in

1 Comment

  1. Avatar of Anne Davison Anne Davison on July 25, 2021 at 5:22 pm

    Our experience in Manitoba would put wild Saskatoons ahead of tame ones.for.flavour. on good years, in decent conditions such as along lakes WWld Saskatoon are tastier than cultivated varieties and quite plentiful.

Leave a Comment