With Saskatchewan reopening and the provincial government easing up on COVID-19 health restrictions, people are again coming in droves to Valley Road for a quick getaway at The Berry Barn 鈥� a popular attraction in Saskatoon area. For more than 20 years, and with Pike Lake also nearby, The Berry Barn has been the go-to place for residents of the city and neighbouring towns who want to stuff themselves with fresh home-cooked meals.
Owner and operator Grant Erlandson said they did not stop their operations even when restrictions were put in place due to the pandemic, but rather discontinued dining in at the restaurant, while also following all the guidelines 鈥� like wearing masks 鈥� implemented by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Their customers could still place their orders because they offered curbside pick-up.
Erlandson said with summer in full swing their restaurant has begun welcoming back its customers.
鈥淭he restaurant is really quite busy right now. This year we can see the return of tourists now coming in. We鈥檙e seeing a lot of families, children bringing in their parents with grandma and grandpa coming. A lot of reunions.鈥�
The opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge also benefited The Berry Barn as the bridge connected to SK-762 therefore cutting the travel time of people who are residing in the south and east side of the city.
Erlandson added they are no longer requiring people to wear masks but they still encourage it, especially if when entering the restaurant and gift shop. It is up to the individual if they still want to wear masks while they are outdoors.
鈥淭he couple of days before the reopening, you could tell that people were kind of warmed up. Then on Sunday it was just calm like 80 per cent of the people still wear masks. It was just kind of a different feeling out there. We still encourage people to wear masks. Our staff are all wearing masks. It鈥檚 up to the individual if they want to wear them or not - with the heat, it鈥檚 made more difficult [wearing masks]. But, myself, I wear it when I go into the barn and when I come out, I take it off,鈥� said Erlandson.
However, the hot weather the past few weeks has made it difficult for Erlandson and his group of berry pickers as they try to continue to harvest the Saskatoon berries along rows of shrubs in the 20-acre farm. They also have separate greenhouses for raspberries and strawberries.
鈥淲e have overripe berries and we have some that is just right. It鈥檚 just the heat鈥檚 just pushing everything way too fast and the pickers can鈥檛 pick them fast enough. Then, there鈥檚 some disease in them. It鈥檚 not a very good berry season,鈥� said Erlandson, who oversees the sorting of the berries they sell to their loyal customers.
He added that despite the Saskatoon berries being made for the dry season, things remain a challenge.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just, like any other part of farming, it is trying with the heat and no rain. We don鈥檛 water the Saskatoon berries, they鈥檙e [made for] drought.鈥�
Once a year Erlandson and his pickers have a three-week window to harvest the fruits that are already ripe. They then run the berries to a machine to sort the ones that can鈥檛 be sold and are already dry. Berry picking starts at 5 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. They have been harvesting 1,000 pounds a day of Saskatoon berries.
鈥淲e are trying to pick the best and then we grade them out. We have a team of graders, grading the berries. Then we sort them again,鈥� said Erlandson.
The Berry Barn also sells Saskatoon berry jam, baked goods, and other items at the gift shop and bakery as well as flowers, plants, garden ornaments, and locally-grown vegetables.
Weddings, corporate functions, and other events can also be held at the garden area of The Berry Barn while kids can enjoy riding the pedal carts, petting zoo during weekends, and other attractions.
