Honeyberries co-op brings new crop to Scottish agriculture

The venture, based in Invergowrie, already has four farms cultivating the berry and hopes to expand by the end of the year

A farming co-op has been formed to bring a new crop to Scotland, the honeyberry – which has commercial potential as a health food and as a fruit wine.

The Scottish Honeyberries co-op, based in Invergowrie, near Dundee, was formed in July to develop cultivation methods and spread knowledge of the crop.

It is hoped the venture – created with the help of local food and drink marketing advisory service Connect Local – will help make Scotland a world leader in the production of the berry.

Chairman Stewart Arbuckle, who brought the berry plants from Canada and has created an orchard of the berries at Invergowrie, says the co-op currently includes four farms, each cultivating between five and 10 acres. He hopes this will increase to nine farms by the end of the year.

“We have to start small,” he said. “It’s a question of finding out which varieties are best for Scottish soil and what is the best way to grow them.”

The plan is to sell the plants to other farmers as well as marketing the berries themselves – which makes the organisation a knowledge co-operative as well as a farming co-op, says Mr Arbuckle.

The intention is “to show off our growing ideas and methods, create a brand, keep a value of that brand within the co-op”, he added.

“We’re trying to build that knowledge. Everyone has something to contribute.”

Honeyberries Co-operative is looking at the health market to take advantage of the crop’s reputation as superberry and has developed a frozen smoothie bag.

“It’s high in antioxidants and vitamin C, more so than blueberries,” said Mr Arbuckle, whose website describes the berry as “a cross between a raspberry and a blueberry, perhaps with a touch of elderberry and added zing”.

As well as being suited to Scotland’s soil and climate, the berry has brix and tannin levels that make it ideal for winemaking.

“We can’t grow grapes in Scotland,” said Mr Arbuckle, ”so here’s an option for making Scottish wine.”

In this article


Join the Conversation