Aronia Berries
Overview
 |
Courtesy of University of Maryland Extension. |
Aronia (Photinia melanocarpa, formerly Aronia melanocarpa) is commonly known as “black chokeberry,” although the preferred common name used by individuals who sell the berries or products made from them is “black aronia berry” or simply “aronia.” Aronia is a woody perennial shrub in the rosaceae family that is native to the eastern United States and hardy to zone three. It grows in full sun and along woodland edges. In recent years, most of its native habitat has been lost to field crops and urbanization (Hardin 1973).
Aronia is a plant that has benefited from increased interest in phytonutrients, plant compounds that have beneficial effects on human health. Evidence of health benefits is accumulating from large population studies, human feeding studies and cell culture studies. Interest in “eating healthy” has led to worldwide growth in the popularity of aronia berries and products made from them. This in turn has led to the planting of aronia as an alternative cash crop in the Midwest (Trinklein 2007).
This plant should not be confused with chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), which is also a native American plant somewhat similar to aronia in appearance, but whose leaves, stems and seeds contain toxic amounts of prussic acid (Trinklein 2007). June 2012 . . . Aronia Berries
Marketing
- Aronia Poland.
- Mid-Atlantic Aronia Grower’s Association.
- Midwest Aronia Association - The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to investigate, improve and promote all aspects of aronia growing.
- National Aronia Council.
- Nutritional Value, Taste Considerations, and Antioxidant Content of Iowa Grown Aronia Berry Food and Beverage Products, Iowa State University, 2011.
- Orenda International, Tempe, Arizona.
- Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods, Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL), Ag Research Services, USDA, 2007. Note: USDA’s NDL recently removed the USDA ORAC Database from the NDL website due to mounting evidence that the values indicating antioxidant capacity have no relevance to the effects of specific bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, on human health.
- Superberries, Omaha, Nebraska.
Production
- Aronia: An Old Fruit Crop, New to Maryland Farms, University of Maryland Extension.
- Aronia Berries, Iowa Public Television, February 2013 - The TV host visits with aronia berry experts and growers to learn more about this celebrated superfood. They share how to grow aronia berry plants in the backyard.
- Aronia in America, Everhart Horticulture Consulting.
- Everhart Horticulture Consulting, Atlantic, Iowa - Dr. Eldon Everhart, an aronia berry expert, worked for Iowa State University Extension for many years.
- Oxbo International Corporation
Businesses/Case Studies
- Bellbrook Berry Farm, Brooklyn, Wisconsin - This farm, formed in 2006, is the first commercial planting of aronia for berry production in Wisconsin.
- BlazerFarmz, Missouri - This business retails aronia berry products that include frozen berries, jam, jelly, chews and cold-pressed juice and is also a large-scale aronia grower.
- Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm, Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Links checked March 2013.
New!
Aronia Berry Product Traffic Report, The Food Processing Center, University of Nebraska, April 2013
