Plaid Shirt Farms Ltd
We are involved in Black Currants from start to finish.
We started by chosing the best tasting, highest quality berries we could find.
This led us to McGinnis Berry Crops Ltd.
Who is McGinnis Berry Crops Ltd?
McGinnis Berry Crops is the industry leader in both the breeding and commercial nursery production of novel black currant varieties in North America. Our varieties are ideally suited to meet the unique local growing conditions and consumer preferences in this market. Our focus is developing Black Currant varieties with extremely high yields, disease resistance and outstanding flavor profiles.
Growing and Propagating
In 2017, at our new farm, we borrowed a neighbour’s planter and We planted approximatley 1000 plants of four different McGinnis black currant cultivars.
Two years later we had our first small crop and planted a thousand more with a tobacco planter we modified for berry plants.
We have increased our black currant orchard annually and as of 2025, we have approximately 12,000 plants in our currant orchards
We asked Mr. McGinnis alot of questions along the way.
Our thirst for black currant knowledge got his attention.
In 2020 we became the sole Canadian licensee propagator of Black Currant varieties developed by McGinnis Berry Crops Ltd.
We now ship black currants plants across Canada from coast to coast.
Processing
Black Currant Jam was our first processed product and like all the products that have followed, it started with micro batch experiments in our kitchen. We knew from the start, that our jam was going to be “fruit-first”, meaning more fruit than sugar. Not a traditional jam!
Soon we were producing Black Currant Chutney, Black Currant Rhubarb Jam, Black Currant Habanero. As our crop yields grew so did our product list.
And then we said “what about juice?’
Black Currant Juice
So we started making small batches of juice with a 40 litre press.
We were selling 500ml bottles of juice. Manageable but time consuming and labour intensive!
Word got out and a distillery called, then a winery, then a brewery, our 40 litre press wasn’t going to cut it anymore and we needed a pckaging solution.
Enter our 300 litre press and bag-in box packaging and new efficiencies. We now sell black currant juice at markets, on-line, select retailers and in bulk to wineries, cideries, distillers and brewers
Sparkling Drinks
In 2023 we introduced Sparkling Black Currant with lemon. A sparkling drink or mocktail made with our black currants. A total of only 5 all natural ingredients. It has been well received as a non alcholic alternative.
Wholesale Black Currants/Products
Who should buy Black Currants wholesale?
- Processors, wineries, distilleries, bakeries
Black currants are loaded with flavour and rich in colour. A little goes along way. Black Currant is an excellent additive to ice cream, yogurt, soft cheese, vinegarettes, gin, vodka, muffins, tarts and pies. The possibilities are endless. - Restaurants
Black Currants can be made into sauces, toppings, salad dressings, throw a few frozen currants into a signature cocktail containing Black Currant Juice. A taste your clients will remember. - Farm Markets
Add some fresh Black Currants to your line up. The popularity of Black Currants is growing! - Retailers
Long ago we attended a seminar on value added products from the farm. The speaker started her presentation with “the world doesn’t need another Strawberry Jam!” Our Black Currant products are made from Black Currants grown on our farm and designed with a “fruit first” mentality. The first ingredient in our jam is not sugar like a lot of others on the market, our first ingredient is Black Currants. You can taste the difference!
Retail Black Currants and Products
Black Currants are available fresh from mid July to early August and frozen year round at our farm near Otterville, Ontario.
Our products are available on line and at iur growing number of retail partners.