Saskatoon Berry Pie

The saskatoon is Amelanchier alnifolia, a native shrub of the northern plains, and the name comes from the Cree misaskwatomin; the city of Saskatoon took its name from the berry, not the other way round. It looks like a blueberry and is not related: it is in the rose family, closer to an apple, and the seeds give it a distinct almond note that separates the pie from a blueberry one. Plains nations dried the berries and pounded them into pemmican with meat and fat, which made them a staple rather than a treat. Picking runs mid-July into August, and u-pick farms, roadside stands and prairie cafes sell the pie.

What you actually see

• The pie - a dense purple filling with an almond note from the seeds.
• The u-pick farms - orchards open for picking in July and August.
• The wild shrubs - saskatoons growing along coulees and river banks.
• The pemmican history - the berry as a staple food rather than a dessert.

When to go

July into August for fresh berries and u-pick; pies are sold year-round from frozen fruit in cafes and bakeries across the prairies. Season timing shifts with the spring.

Honest expectations

Fresh berry season is short, a few weeks. Out of season the pie is made from frozen fruit, which is still good but not the same. Wild picking on private land needs permission.

Nearby

Saskatoon is the namesake city; u-pick farms surround the prairie towns.