Behind the Garden House are 72 Saskatoon Berries, a cultivar of Amelanchier alnifolia, which we have been growing for 3 years.  Other common names for amelanchier alnifolia include, Juneberry or Service berry. A “berry of the prairie”,  cultivars of amelanchier alnifolia are rich in antioixidants including lutein and querciten.   A member of the rose family it ripens earlier then our beloved blueberry.  In addition to having a similar antioxidant profile to the blueberry, the Saskatoon berry also contains protein and small seeds which contain triacylglycerol and lipids similar to the Acai berry of Brazil.  Our variety, Northland, has been studied extensively for its phytochemical and antioxidant components by the University of Manitoba.  Their taste is not as sweet as a blueberry and is best described as a cherry almond flavor.