Soon on store shelves: Saskatchewan sea-buckthorn products

 

 

Known across Europe and Asia for its nutritional value and therapeutic uses, the domestic market for sea-buckthorn berry products remains small. Numerous products are possible from the sea-buckthorn berry, from juice to hair gel, and thanks to research by Northern Vigor Berries, markets for the Saskatchewan-grown
shrub may be opening up.

 

While sea-buckthorn products have been used extensively in countries like Russia and China for centuries, little is known about the plant by North American consumers. The plant has been grown in North America for decades, but growers here have yet to reap much from their labour.

 

“Many growers have been discouraged over the years because of lack of markets,” says Betty Forbes, President of Northern Vigor Berries, “and my goal is to reverse that so every sea-buckthorn grower can see a return on his investment. It’s such an incredibly valuable plant that offers so much for the health conscious consumer. It is just a matter of educating the consumer on what is available now.”

 

Only a very small amount of berries are needed for the health benefits, as they include high amounts of vitamins C, E, and A as well as flavonols and amino acids.

Northern Vigor Berries’ recently completed project focussed on developing products and expanding the market for the berries. The project received adaptation funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, delivered in Saskatchewan by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Inc.

 

Oil can be pressed from sea-buckthorn seeds, and some estimates place the potential market in North America at 10,000 kilograms of oil per year. The oil has a high price point, with 1000 grams of berries yielding about six grams of seed oil and about 21 grams of pulp oil. As Forbes notes, both types of oil are very valuable because they can be used as a medicinal product, in various creams, and can be taken internally for digestive problems.

 

Northern Vigor was able to freeze dry the berry pulp, which can be used as an ingredient in various foods, from sauces to sorbets. An excellent fruit leather and a sugar-infused dried berry to add to products were also developed. Both products can now move to the consumer product testing and marketing stage.

 

Benefits of this project will be seen by the 120 Saskatchewan producers, who will be able to market new value-added ingredients and products that will have uses for consumers, chefs and processors. “They will have new, very healthy ingredients,” says Forbes, “and value added products with local origins.”

 

 

 

 

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