Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Developing production, processing and marketing of aronia berries on small family farms in southeast Iowa

Project ID: M2009-05

Abstract

ISU Extension and Outreach specialists worked with several stakeholder groups to educate southeast Iowa farmers about the aronia berry, a crop new to Iowa with potential for market growth.

Key Question: Could a potential new and valuable crop, “aronia,” be successfully produced and marketed by a set of newly trained growers?

Findings: The final answer is not in, but looks very promising. Since the conclusion of this project two of the four original growers have added additional plantings of aronia. The first real harvest would have been in fall of 2012, but April 2012 freeze greatly reduced yield. Claude Nicholson marketed aronia products (frozen berries and juice) originally obtained in Omaha (Superberry) at his farm in 2010 and also had berries he sold in 2011.

Lead investigator: Patrick O'Malley, ISU Extension and Outreach

Year of grant completion: 2012

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Fruit and vegetables, Market research and feasibility studies