Released August 26, 2009
MOUNT AYR, Iowa - Aronia berries contain very high levels of antioxidants --- higher than acia, grapes, elderberries, blueberries, and other fruits. Research has shown that antioxidants help reduce the risk for cancer, heart disease, inflammations, diabetes, bacterial infections, and neurological diseases, and may slow the aging process in humans.
Aronia berries can be eaten fresh off the bush or used in bread, muffins, pies, cookies and other baked goods. They can be used to make tea, smoothies, juice, and aronia wine. Aronia fruit or fruit juice can be used to make jams, jellies, syrup, candy, salsa, barbeque sauce, and to flavor and color yogurt, sorbet, ice cream, milk and other products.
Aronia is native to the United States and easy to grow organically. Hundreds of acres are being planted in the Midwest. That’s because an Aronia business can be very profitable. Annual returns per acre can be more than $8,000 on the wholesale market and $100,000 on the retail market.
The Aronia Festival on Saturday & Sunday, Sept 19 & 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm, 2159 Kennedy Avenue, north of Missouri Valley, Iowa will have tours of the aronia plantation, educational talks, entertainment, samples, plants and products for sale. Take Interstate 29 south from Sioux City or north from Omaha to Exit 82 (Modale) then follow the aronia berry signs. The event is co-sponsored by Iowa State University Extension & Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm.
Additional Information
What is aronia?
Aronia melanocarpa is a perennial, deciduous, self-supporting shrub, native to the eastern half of the United States. Its native range extends into Canada and south into Georgia, and includes only Winneshiek County in Iowa. Aronia is cold hardy to at least USDA Zone 3 (-40 F). The cold tolerant blooms open in late spring and avoid most frosts. The plants will grow on various soils from poorly drained to well-drained sites.
Where is aronia grown commercially?
Early in the 20th century, aronia was introduced in Eastern Europe where high quality, large fruited cultivars were selected. Aronia is now grown on thousands of acres in Eastern Europe.
Aronia berries’ popularity is skyrocketing in the United States. The aronia berry industry is still in the early stages of development. Commercial plantations are mostly being planted in the Midwest.
Are all aronia cultivars the same?
‘Autumn Magic’ and ‘Iraqis Beauty’ are commonly sold ornamental cultivars of Aronia melanocarpa. They were selected for their ornamental traits – white flowers, shiny green leaves, orange-red fall foliage, and dark purple berries. If not harvested, the berries will hang on the bushes until songbirds eat them late winter.
‘McKenzie’ is a cultivar that was selected for use in windbreaks and conservation plantings, not for commercial berry production. It was released in 2008.
‘Viking’ and ‘Nero’ were selected in Russia for commercial fruit production. Within the last 15 years, these two cultivars were introduced back into the United States. Mature plants of ‘Viking’ are six to eight feet tall with 40 or more shoots per plant. They are the size of a common lilac bush and live just as long.
How are aronia berries harvested?
The round, pea-sized, violet-black berries of Aronia melanocarpa hang in clusters of up to 12 berries. Aronia berries are ready to harvest by hand or with a mechanical harvester in mid August to early September.
How are aronia berries used?
Aronia berries can be eaten fresh off the bush or used in bread, muffins, pies, cookies and other baked goods. They can be used to make tea, smoothies, juice, and aronia wine. Aronia fruit or fruit juice can be used to make jams, jellies, syrup, candy, salsa, barbeque sauce, and to flavor and color yogurt, sorbet, ice cream, milk, and other products.
What do aronia berries taste like?
Taste is difficult to describe and not all things taste the same to all people. Aronia berries have a distinctive, pleasant flavor.
Astringency is the sensation that most people notice first. The berries will make your mouth pucker. This dry mouth feeling is caused by chemicals known as tannins. Tannins make dry wines dry. Many people like that dry, mouth puckering quality of dry wines and aronia berries. Freezing reduces the astringency and makes it easier to extract the juice.
When fully ripe, aronia berries have a sugar content as high as grapes or sweet cherries. They have a high acid content (low pH) but are not sour when fully ripe.
Why grow aronia?
They do not need trellising, spraying, or bird netting. Most insect pests, diseases, and other “critters” leave them alone. Deer and Japanese beetles are a problem in some areas. Aronia plants are easy to grow and maintain. You must mow between the rows and harvest the berries. An aronia business can be profitable.
Where to get more information?
Aronia Festival on Saturday & Sunday, Sept 19 & 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm, 2159 Kennedy Avenue, north of Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Aronia berries and products are for sale in store or online at Mae’s Superberries, 8909 H Street Ste 2, Omaha, Neb. 68127-1480, 402-934-7112, ksailors@superberries.com, http://www.superberries.com/
Aronia consultations by telephone or on-site are offered for a fee by Eldon Everhart, everhart@iastate.edu
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http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ringgold/news/aroniafestival.htm
Source: Eldon Everhart, everhart@iastate.edu
