USask Fruit Program breeds many crops!

Events are in the planning stage

Dr. Anze Svara is the new head of the fruit program! He started on Jan 15, 2025.  He will have a page about his research background and interests on the Plant Sciences Faculty and Staff webpage. but as of Jan 22, it isn't up yet.

However, Dr. Svara has decided there will be:

A Plant sale (likely June 6)

Haskap Days (likely July 17 & 18)

A Grafting Workshop (Likely mid August)

These are in the planning stages.  Full details will be posted when details are decided.  

'Boreal Bliss' a new haskap variety

This is the first haskap variety with wild Canadian haskap as one of its parents.  It is being propagated by the Fruit Program to be distrbuted to nurseries in spring. Likely it will start appearing for sale in 2026.

Click HERE to read more about it.

Bob Bors "Retirement"

After 25.5 years, I retired as of July 1st, 2024.  I will continue to be involved in the fruit program as a volunteer. Since I retired on July 1st I have already: run Haskap days; gathered berries from controlled crosses and extracted seeds; given two tours; made notes on promising advanced selections and propagated some of them; written documents for Plant Breeder's Rights for our new haskap 'Boreal Bliss', and helped 3 professors with grant proposals. This month (September) the department is interviewing candidates to replace me. Whoever gets hired, I will be quite happy to offer may assistance for fruit breeding.

I intend to to give talks and workshops and hope to ease the transition of whoever replaces me.  Likely I will complete my partially written Haskap manual this winter and possibly update the Cherry grower's manual.  I am planning on staying in Saskatoon when retired so I'll be around. 

People ask me how does it feel to be retired.  Well, I get to sleep in, take naps, and do things that I like to do. Except for the extra sleeping and lack of authority, its very similar to my job in the summer.

Sincerely,

Bob Bors

PS: at the Crop Production Show it was announced that Bob will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame!