Place the haskap berries in the refrigerator immediately after picking (click here for tips on picking up your own) or purchasing and consume them within days.
An optimum temperature near 0 ° C at all times will keep the haskap for 2 to 3 weeks.
They are sensitive to water loss, so store them at 90-95% humidity to prevent them from drying out.
They must be kept in their collection boxes, as they are fragile.
Limit handling, but remove damaged fruit.
Do not spray them with water, and do not wash them. Water shortens their shelf life and promotes contamination.
They are slightly sensitive to ethylene (a gas naturally produced by some fruits that makes them ripen). It is therefore best to place them away from apples, pears, peaches and melons, which also emit this gas.
It is possible to freeze the haskap. They will then keep for up to 12 months.
Be careful, once thawed, their texture will be softer: take the opportunity to make jams or pies!
Freeze the slightly softened haskap berries to make ice cubes in your favorite drinks!
The freezing steps are simple:
Clean the haskap
Place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper
Freeze for about 2 hours
Transfer the berries to a freezer bag
Seal the freezer bag tightly, removing as much air as possible, then place in the freezer. This technique is very useful in order to prevent the berries from clumping together in the freezer bag.
Source: Association of Haskap Producers of Quebec (www.camerisequebec.com)