Sustainable Development of Ribes, Aronia - Elderberry as Commerical Crops in the Northeast

Sustainable Development of Ribes, Aronia - Elderberry as Commerical Crops in the Northeast

Summary

Commercialization of ribes, elderberry, and aronia continues to take place at a rapid pace in the Northeast. Publicity during the year has stimulated much interest in getting production developed. An article in the New York Times stimulated over 500 inquiries in less than two weeks. Even the governor of New York, and the Attorney General have expressed interest in planting on their own farms. The SARE project committee is working hard to help those interested in planting, processing, and marketing to find their niche in the developing industry.

* The feasibility study has been completed and is in the process of being distributed to interested parties.
* A production guide will be available to the public in Spring of 2004.
* The health benefits study research has been completed and is being written up.
* The fungicide trial has identified two materials effective in controlling the three top fungus pests.
* Over 70,000 pounds of black currant fruit was processed this year with two new products on the market and five new ones on the way.
* Over 200 gooseberry varieties have been photographed and classified.
* Seed fron about 150 varieties of ribes have beed collected and cleaned for chance seedling collection.
* Six new, productive varieties of Elderberry will be commercially available this spring for distribution.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Target 1. Perform research that will help growers, nutritionists, processors, marketers, and consumers understand and compare the potential health benefits of targeted berry crops by characterizing and determining in vivo effects of their phytochemicals. National press coverage through television, radio, newspaper, and popular magazines will disperse the popular version of results, while a minimum of one scientific journal and 20 trade publications will disperse the scientific and applied version of results.

Target 2. A feasibility study, a turnkey business plan (including marketing), and a plan for farmer cooperation will be written for targeted berry crops and adopted by 20 participating farmers during 2002, and an additional 20 farmers will be added annually thereafter for five years.

Target 3. Selected cultural practices, fresh market industry standards, and sample primary processed products for chosen targeted berry crops will be researched, developed and shared when available. A group of basic retail product formulations will also be developed.

Target 1 Potential health benefits of ribes, aronia, elderberry. (New or existing dates follow)

Milestone 1 (Winter 2004) Report phytochemical characterization of targeted berries to extension educators, growers, and processors through a newsletter and meeting.

Milestone 2 (Winter 2004) Report results of in vivo studies of phytochemical metabolism and their possible impact on animal health to extension educators, growers, and processors.

Milestone 3 (Winter 2004) Publish scientific journal article related to targeted berries and their potential health benefits. Make press releases and conduct interviews for the general public.

Target 2 Develop feasibility studies, turnkey business plan, and a plan for farmer cooperation. (New or existing dates follow.)

Milestone 1 (Fall, 2003) Release completed feasibility study on targeted berries to extension educators, growers, and processors. Present results in a meeting of 100 growers, and recruit 20 as participant growers.

Milestone 2 (Fall, 2003) Release business plan to extension educators, and 20 participant farmers.

Milestone 3 (Spring 2004) Offer grower services to participating growers.

Milestone 4 (Winter 2005) Continue to add participating farmers at a rate of 20 per year.

Target 3 Develop cultural practices, market standards and sample primary processed products.
(Dates have been adjusted slightly.)

Milestone 1 (Fall, 2003) Make results of the first year’s fungicide trials, and gooseberry industry standards available to extension educators and 20 growers in newsletters and a meeting.

Milestone 2 (Winter 2003) Distribute primary processed products to at least ten retail product manufacturers and basic retail product recipes in a workshop open to 50 small scale food processors. Assist up to four medium to large scale and ten small processors to develop products.

Milestone 3 (Fall 2003) Distribute gooseberry seedlings to five participating growers.

Milestone 4 (Summer 2004) Assist five gooseberry farmers to incorporate new mkt. stds.

Milestone 5 (Fall 2004, 2005) Make annual results of fungicide trials and seedling observations available to extension personnel and 50 growers.

Milestone 6 (Winter 2006) Incorporate new fungicide guidelines into extension ribes recommendations and make preliminary selections of gooseberry seedlings.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Target 1 Potential health benefits of ribes, aronia, elderberry.

The research for this target was completed during the summer of 2003. Ron Prior, the principle investigator on the team will be writing up the results this winter to distribute in the winter and spring through newsletters and meetings.

Target 2 Develop feasibility studies, turnkey business plan, and a plan for farmer cooperation.

The work for target 2 has been completed. The feasibility study and business plans are now being distributed on request, and will be distributed at winter meetings. The plan for farmer cooperation and getting planting started has been done, and Au Currant, a New York based company has begun to work with 15 farmers on planting projects.

Target 3 Develop cultural practices, market standards and sample primary processed products.

2003 results for the first year’s fungicide trials, and gooseberry industry standards will be available to extension educators and growers in the NY Berry News newsletter and a grower meeting.

Two articles have been written on cordon training of red currants and gooseberries. Three large scale growers have adopted the practice for fresh market berries.

Gooseberry and currant cultivar photos have been taken, and descriptions are being compiledand a brochure for grower use is being developed with the data.

A commercial juice and a commercial yogurt have been put on the market. Five new retail products are being developed and are going on the market this spring.

In Progress:

Milestone (Summer 2004) Assist five gooseberry farmers to incorporate new mkt. stds.

Milestone (Fall 2004, 2005) Make annual results of fungicide trials and seedling observations available to extension personnel and 50 growers.

Milestone (Winter 2006) Incorporate new fungicide guidelines into extension ribes recommendations and make preliminary selections of gooseberry seedlings.