Freeze-drying is a method that retains the majority of haskap’s nutrients and bioactives, while keeping their vibrant taste intact.
It not only preserves their flavour and colour, but also locks in nutrients for up to two years when stored correctly.
In simple terms, it’s a way to make berries last longer while still tasting fresh.
In more technical terms, freeze drying (or lyophilisation) is a process where berries are frozen, then gently dried under vacuum. The ice inside the fruit turns straight into vapour — skipping the liquid stage — which protects delicate nutrients and flavour.
This gentle, low-temperature method is used not only for food but also for pharmaceuticals and other sensitive products. For soft fruits that don’t travel well, it’s a game changer: no more squished blueberries, less plastic packaging, reduced food waste, and a much longer shelf life.
What is NOVA classification and why does it matter?
Another reason we freeze-dry is because of how it’s classified in the NOVA food system. NOVA is a way of grouping foods based on how much they’ve been processed. Developed in 2009, it helps researchers and health professionals study the impact of processing on human health — particularly as ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been linked to rising rates of obesity and chronic disease.
And now, time for our fanfare: Freeze drying keeps our Haskap Berry Powder firmly in Group 1 — the healthiest category.
This means you’re enjoying a food that is minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and supportive of good health. In fact, recent research published in Nature Medicine showed that even when two groups followed the same dietary guidelines, those eating minimally processed foods (MPF) experienced significantly greater weight loss than those eating ultra-processed foods (UPF).
Simple choices don’t need to reduce health benefits
Happily, freeze drying allows us to capture the best of our haskap berries — preserving their vibrant flavour, rich nutrients, and natural goodness for up to two years. Because the process is classed as NOVA Group 1, you can be confident you’re enjoying a minimally processed food that supports health, not hinders it. It’s a clever, sustainable way to reduce food waste, cut down on packaging, and make sure our berries stay as nature intended.
Add a spoonful to your morning smoothie, sprinkle over yoghurt, or stir into porridge — and enjoy all the benefits of haskap in its purest form.
References
- Dicken, Samuel J., et al. “Ultraprocessed or Minimally Processed Diets Following Healthy Dietary Guidelines on Weight and Cardiometabolic Health: A Randomized, Crossover Trial.” Nature Medicine, 4 Aug. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03842-0.
- Monteiro, Carlos Augusto, et al. “The UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA Food Classification and the Trouble with Ultra-Processing.” Public Health Nutrition, vol. 21, no. 1, 21 Mar. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980017000234.
- Nowak, Dorota, and Ewa Jakubczyk. “The Freeze-Drying of Foods—the Characteristic of the Process Course and the Effect of Its Parameters on the Physical Properties of Food Materials.” Foods, vol. 9, no. 10, 18 Oct. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9101488.
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/freeze-drying