At Over the Hill Orchards and Winery overlooking the Qu’appelle Valley, Dean Kreutzer steps inside an inconspicuous machine shop. He points out the three small trees awash in purple light.

“This is my attempt at a plumcot, that’s a cross between a plum and an apricot,” he said. 

Even though the Prairies are not as hospitable to fruit production as the Okanogan Valley or the Niagara Peninsula, Kreutzer is hoping to change that.

“I’m trying to either create better quality apricots (for example) that are hardy for Saskatchewan, or I’m trying to introduce plants that aren’t yet hardy enough for Saskatchewan like almonds,” Kreutzer said. 

As a certified organic fruit grower, Kreutzer is among a unique group of agricultural producers, especially in Southeast Saskatchewan. Along with more common and locally grown fruits like raspberries and strawberries, his orchard is also home to fig, peach and cherry trees.  

Using cross pollination, Kreutzer also experiments with hybrid fruit like plumclots. 

When asked how fruits like figs can survive our freezing climate, Kreutzer said: 

“Well I push the envelope a lot; certain varieties of figs can survive up to –10°C. I grow them in a greenhouse during the season, and then in winter I cover them up with insulated fabric and I use other warming techniques.”

“We had -42°C in February  and underneath the cover it was -3°C.” 

Kreutzer often has to contend with another well known aspect of Saskatchewan’s climate, the wind. It can wreck both fruit trees and greenhouses.

He said the Regina Basin is often colder and windier than other parts of southern Saskatchewan. 

“It’s the worst place to have an orchard. We are extremely windy, we are extremely dry, This is year eight in our drought, and we have heavy clay soil. Which is great for crops, but it’s not good for fruits.”

He concluded with “so yeah, it sucks here.” 

Even though such growing conditions might seem bleak to many, Kreutzer said the orchard utilizes the strengths of its location, including its close proximity to Regina and the beautiful views of the valley. 

“We rely on tourism more than production. If we had to rely on what we produce to make a living, we couldn’t do it.”

The orchard began wine production in 2014, with fruits grown on site. Their most popular variety is a raspberry rhubarb wine, which outsells everything else 3 to 1, according to Kreutzer. 

Combining fine dining, local wine and natural scenery, Kreutzer hopes to provide an experience to visitors that is more unique than an average night out. 

“With our collaboration with chiefs from Regina and Saskatoon, we now do suppers at the orchard three-to-five days a week starting in May.” He said.

“People come out and have a four-course meal paired with our wine, and then I take them on a tour of the orchard in between courses.” 

The orchard provides additional experiences in the summer months, including wine tastings, picnics and U-pick-your-own cut flower experience.