Curtis Braaten: President, Haskap Central Sales Ltd.
As a young boy on our mixed farm, I was introduced to berry picking and gardening at an early age. Early memories such as being in the raspberry patch with mom are deep and permanent and have contributed to my lifelong passion for being outside to appreciate all that mother nature has to offer. Through these and other experiences I developed a desire to farm with my brothers and dad.
During the time I spent farming with my family, my passion for fruit production started to blossom. I began experimenting with blue honeysuckle, sea buckthorn, apples, cherries and chokecherries on my farm at Birch Hills and then began several agroforestry initiatives and demonstration projects with hybrid poplar and siberian larch, some alone, some with others. Horticulture and agroforestry were replacing my more common agricultural aspirations.
Out of all of this came many hours spent over the last decade volunteering at the University of Saskatchewan within their fruit development program. The knowledge and relationships gained during this time gave me the confidence to enter the fruit industry.
In 2007 I, along with a few close associates started Haskap Central Sales Ltd.(licensed haskap propagation and sales) and then Northern Light Orchards Ltd. (haskap orchard) to grow and sell haskap plants and fruit. My desire to learn more led me into the Prairie Horticultural Certificate, which I graduated from in March/09 with a specialty in greenhouse crop production.
My wife Leslie and I, along with our wonderful children Kaylee and Donovan, have recently purchased the former Domtar (Weyerhauser) Seed Orchard and greenhouse close to Henribourg, Saskatchewan, Canada. This will be the home of Living Sky Growers Ltd. orchard and greenhouse (owned by Leslie and myself) and will also be the home location of Haskap Central Sales Ltd.
My work career has encompassed many aspects of food production, processing, preparation and service. This hands-on experience will enhance our ability to provide quality product and service to customers. I will continue to manage the Conservation Learning Centre, a research, development, and demonstration farm south of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. It encompasses agro-forestry, fruit, grain, and pulse production with a focus on environmental stewardship, biodiversity, carbon reduction, and education.
Carl Barber:
I live with my wife Sandra twenty minutes south east of Prince Albert in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. I grew up on our mixed family farm in south east Saskatchewan and had an avid interest in the environment, ecology, gardening, and plants in general at an early age. Knowledge gained in high school prompted me to study environmental science in university. Following this I expanded what had been summer employment into a successful career as a concrete and building construction contractor. I gained hands on experience in many aspects of construction with a particular focus on the design and construction of intensive livestock facilities.
During this time I developed an interest in managing woody perennials as a way to diversify the rural economic landscape; an interest that led me into woodlot management, wood processing, silvicultural trials and demonstrations, hybrid poplar production and, eventually, fruit orchard development. Haskap (blue honeysuckle) plant and fruit production is particularly interesting to me. Some of the several desirable traits are that haskap shrubs seem particularly well suited for our climate and the fruit not only has an enticing complex flavor and color, independent scientific research indicates that the berries are even higher in antioxidants than the Canadian wild blueberry.
In addition to being an active part of Haskap Central Sales Ltd., I am president and manager of Northern Light Orchards Ltd, a 15 acre haskap berry orchard. I have a working interest in our family farm, have a tourism business (Tiger Hills Outfitting), and have two woodlots that Sandra and I manage as ecological reserves with a Siberian larch agroforesty trial, wild fruit production, and outdoor recreation as components of these woodlots. Some of the community positions I have held over the years are: scout leader and president of the Birch Hills Scouting Association, board member and then President of the Birch Hills Curling Club, board member and Federated Co-op delegate of the Birch Hills Co-op. In 2007 I was part of the haskap research team that went to Japan to research the haskap industry there.
Quality product, service, and honesty have been my trademark. I intend to offer the same to our customers in Haskap Central Sales Ltd.
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