Honeyberry
Lonicera caerulea
Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea), also known as haskap, is a cold-hardy perennial shrub producing early-season oval blue berries with flavor blending blueberry, blackberry, and cherry notes. Suitable for Zones 2-8with late-blooming varieties; resilient, low-maintenance, and early ripening before strawberries.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- Spring or Fall – Spring or Fall
- Harvest
- Mid-June to early July – Mid-June to early July
Yield
- Typical yield
- 3,000 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 50 years
- Years to full prod.
- 5
- Labor
- 2300 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Limited or developing buyer network in this region
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally
Multiple Buyer Channels
Limited market channels; primarily single outlet
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (2.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free requirement not specified; crop documented as viable in region
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (400+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure
Storage Available
Specialized or limited storage; perishable product needs immediate handling
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Equipment Requirements
planting
General purpose tractor for site prep, mowing, and mulch application. Shared equipment across small fruit operations.
PTO-driven auger for digging planting holes. Speeds establishment for plantings over 100 bushes.
irrigation
Per-acre cost. Essential for establishment and during heat stress events. Honeyberries prefer consistent moisture.
harvesting
Per-acre cost for 1/2-inch mesh netting with support structure. Absolutely essential — birds will take entire crop without it.
Electric handheld shaker with long fingers for vibrating branches. Can harvest a bush in under 1 minute. Cost-effective for plantings over 200 bushes.
Shallow harvest trays to avoid crushing soft berries. Tarps placed under bushes when using shaker harvest method.
post_harvest
Honeyberries are very soft and perishable. Must be cooled to 32-34°F within hours of harvest. Essential for any commercial operation.
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($110,000/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($23,000/acre) are high
Payback Period OK
Long establishment period (5 years); extended payback
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance; NAP may be available for some disaster scenarios
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($48) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
No specific subsidy programs identified
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $10/lb |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $22,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | —/acre |
| Establishment Cost | —/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $4,500 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: Montana State University WARC Haskap Labor Estimates; HoneyberryUSA (Bagley, MN) retail pricing (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
disease
Fungal disease that typically appears after harvest in mid to late summer, causing white powdery coating on leaves with brown patches. Usually cosmetic and does not significantly impact fruit yield.
pest
Honeyberries ripen 2-3 weeks before strawberries, making them the first available fruit for birds. Without protection, birds can consume the entire crop within days.
Occasional aphid infestations on new growth tips. Generally minor and self-limiting in healthy plantings with good beneficial insect populations.
Caterpillars that roll and feed within leaves, primarily attacking growing tips. Damage is usually cosmetic and does not affect fruit production significantly.
climate
Honeyberries are adapted to cool climates and can suffer leaf scorch and reduced fruit quality during extended heat above 90°F. The growing region summer heat waves can stress plants.
Honeyberries bloom very early (often March-April in the growing region). While flowers can tolerate temperatures down to 20°F, severe late frosts during full bloom can reduce fruit set.
market
Honeyberries are still relatively unknown to most American consumers. Direct marketing requires significant consumer education about the fruit.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Honeyberry against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
34 tracked changes across 7 data categories