Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Jun 8, 2023
Besides the popular strawberry, raspberry and blueberry trio, many other berries and small fruit are also available for self-picking and are well worth getting to know better. If you want to get off the beaten track, look no further!
By Marie-Claude Masse
Often compared to blueberries because of their colour and shape, although they’re slightly more elongated, hascaps offer highly complex flavours. Some people detect hints of blackberry, others of nectarine or rhubarb... Discover them for yourself! At Petits Fruits du Clocher in Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton, they transform them into delicious jams, jellies and ketchup. At the Ferme potagère in Magog, the arrival of honeyberries brings about a real celebration! At Le Juré sucré in Racine, the berries are certified organic, and at Le Blanc Marronnier, also in Racine, they make delicious honeyberry pastries!
Where Can You Pick Them?
Ah! blackcurrants, these delicious almost-black berries with the tangy flavours we love! Versatile, they go well with both sweet and salty dishes, not to mention the wow factor they add to your cocktails (think blackcurrant cosmo!). In the region, you’ll find them at the aptly named Paradis des fruits, in Dunham (take the opportunity to pick up some of their delicious pasteurized honey!). In Shefford, at Fruitière des Cantons, a great family-run business, you’ll discover a super-ecological production. For blackcurrant-based products, you can also visit Domaine Ives Hill in Compton.
Where Can You Pick Them?
To our knowledge, there’s only one producer who offers this little fruit on a U-pick basis, the young enterprise Aux Champs Mère Terre in Mansonville. The friendly owners, Diane and Wayne, will tell you all about the thousand and one reasons why they’re so devoted to this exquisite berry packed with health benefits. Psst! You can also pick hascap berries here.
Where Can You Pick Them?
With its bright orange colour, sea buckthorn berries are tonic, Nordic and unique. It’s no surprise that they’ve found their way onto some of the world’s top chefs’ dishes! At Les Argousiers du Lac Brome, not only can you pick them, you can also stock up on their invigorating 100% organic sea buckthorn juice! At the Jardins Zone Orange in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Rochelle, you’ll find over twenty varieties of sea buckthorn berries! The Cap aux Sources blueberry farm in Weedon also lets you pick your own fruits, and Jardins Merridor in Ulverton has made it a real specialty and offers a host of delicious prepared products using these orange berries.
Where Can You Pick Them?
Did you know that our region is home to the largest elderberry plantation in Canada? The producers at Vitalité Sureau have successfully created a magnificent environment where the beneficial properties of elderberries are celebrated (but more than this, weddings are also held here!). Triple the pleasure of self-picking by stopping off at their lovely boutique and, above all, their friendly bistro. We look forward to seeing you there!
Where Can You Pick Them?
Be curious! There are so many other berries and small fruits to discover and to indulge in. What’s more, in the Eastern Townships you’ll find a wide range of innovative producers. Visit the Créateurs de saveurs website to find out more!
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