In 1993 Sandy Purdy and her husband Ken planted their first Saskatoon berry tree. The Purdy’s had a desire to keep working on the farm and to continue living in rural Saskatchewan. A good crop of Saskatoons would help their new venture. “In 1993 there weren’t a whole lot of growers and research on Saskatoons was new. There was plenty of research on durham or canola, but fruit was a new industry”. The Purdy’s had to find out how to produce Saskatoon berries and how to process them at their Prairie Berries operation. They researched how to plant, fertilize, and irrigate. Even selecting what version of Saskatoon to plant was challenging because there are 27 different cultivars.

At a Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association conference, the Purdy’s met Richard St. Pierre a horticulturist with the University of Saskatchewan. They were also introduced to Clarence Peters a Fruit Specialist with Sask. Agriculture and Food and Bruce Neill of Agriculture Canada (PFRA). With the help of these people, the Purdy’s operation became a commercial one and they went from being sideline growers to full-time growers.

Prairie Berries creates delicious Saskatoon berry pies and jams while employing two full-time workers. During the summer months, ten students from Eyebrow, Tagaske, Marquis and Keeler area find work with the Purdy’s.

The first pick of Saskatoons occurs early the second week in July. A second picking happens in mid July and the final picking takes place in the third week. The harvesting of Saskatoon berries takes just three weeks.

Sandy Purdy has advice for new growers or potential new growers, “Get involved with the association, network with other growers, do your research.” If you are looking at a U-pick business, do you have the population in a hundred mile radius of your operation to support the business? she asks. “What cultivar will grow best for you is something you will need to discover” she says.

Sandy suggests that attending SFGA field days would help an interested fruit grower. “Purchasing Richard St. Pierre’s book will be the best sixty-five dollars you’ll ever spend,” she adds.

The Purdy’s continue to learn as they grow their fruit business. The international marketplace is now in the horizon of their Keeler, Saskatchewan farm.