2024 was an interesting year for the Aronia Harvest at our farm.
Harvesting machines and crews we have used in the past were not available. We have attempted to harvest berries by hand but with 5,000 bushes, it’s not feasible for us.
So…Kendall, our son, has worked with a life-long friend on a farm and vineyard. They had the “Old Braud” we hoped and prayed might do the job. The machine is a 1985 grape harvester that has been lovingly maintained to harvest grapes. At two years younger than Kendall, it was either try to use the “Old Braud” or we were S.O.L. So on a beautiful Saturday in early September we gave it a whirl. Nothing broke down, success!
We were disappointed with the total harvest, and are realizing the berries bushes are too tall and probably too old to produce a good crop. We planted our first bushes in 2008 and continued planting through 2012. It may be time for some severe pruning.
Let me explain…very few people have heard of an Aronia Berry. I encourage you to do your research after seeing this. You’ll find they’re the healthiest berry you’ve never heard of! Aronia Berries are twice as high in antioxidants than blueberries, higher in fact than grandma’s Elderberries!
If you scroll through our site, you’ll see lots of reasons folks would want to consume Aronia berries every day. We do. Why? For example recently two people I spend time with came down with COVID. I didn’t ever get it. I haven’t had the flu in years. My allergies make me prone to sinus infections which I used to get twice a year like clockwork, haven’t had one in a couple years. We don’t get the grandkids’ crud:).
My husband, who is 87, goes to the doctor, they want to know how he looks so good and is doing so much. He has three doctors now who have purchased berries and believe in them.
Why should you try Aronia?
We have folks who use our Aronia products to help with high cholesterol, Chron’s, IBS, regulate blood sugar, promote regularity, and more than a few who “just feel better”.
Don’t take our word for it, if you’re serious about feeling better without all the pills, visit MyAroniaBerry.com and give Aronia a try. Why else would someone eat something called a “chokeberry”? They’ve were used by native Americans for their medicinal value. Granted, they aren’t as sweet as a blueberry, but you can handle 14-18 per day to get the antioxidant boost you need daily.
Freeze dried Aronia berries (or the frozen berries) are great tossed in trail mix, fudge (see the recipe), yogurt, overnight oats, cereals, meatballs, chili, soups and in salads.
We have some who call the Immune Syrup “Magic Juice”. Teachers especially love the stuff. They don’t succumb to the little germ factories they are in touch with with on a daily basis.
Aronia powder is awesome in energy drinks, lemonade, coffee, water, orange juice, soups and smoothies. Aronia powder is ground so fine, I like it in a carrier oil on my skin instead of an expensive lotion. It’s full of vitamin C, E, and resveratrol. You will find our Aronia powder more expensive than some. Why? You’re getting the full berry and all the nutritional value, not just the leftovers after juicing. We also take great care with a unique process that doesn’t heat up the berries when grinding. Again, preserving all the nutritional value!
If you’re a smoothie lover, you owe it to yourself to give Aronia berries a try. Use a protein? Try our A2 Immune Builder, it’s got the power of Aronia and the protein of A2 goat whey. It’s done amazing things for so many. Everything from building up weightlifters and grandma’s muscles, to calming stomach issues, and even helping eliminate age spots in some folks. We think it’s about as close to mother’s milk as possible. Helping with so many different facets of health.
MyAroniaBerry.com
Interested in giving Aronia a try? Head on over to MyAroniaBerry.com to find yours. We look forward to sending some your way!
Recently we shipped berries to Florida and California, sent berries to New Jersey to an organic juice bar, restocked our local stores, sold berries to a farmer hoping to help a pig’s inflammation prior to their County Fair, and learned a mid-wife recommends Aronia to her patients to help with varicose veins!
I’ve been reaching out to new outlets who may have an interest in our healthy, high antioxidant berries. If you know of anyone interested, please encourage them to reach out to Peggy@MyAroniaBerry.com.
Each bloom will become a berry. Fields are loaded with beautiful, fragrant blooms.
Fragrant Spring!
Spring is a beautiful time at our house. We can see fields full of blossoms in three directions. We love watching the bushes awake from their deep woodsy branches to the maroon looking buds, then the pop of the buds, leaves emerging leaving a green cast on the fields, and finally the flowers.
Early to mid-May is when the fields burst into color. If we get a heavy wind, like we have lately, it looks like it’s snowing tiny white petals. The petals fall off and all that is left is the forming berry. It’s amazing to watch the transformation.
It’s time to feed the plants again. This week we used the “fragrant cocktail” to feed the plants. We use an organic foliar spray made of fish emulsion and seaweed to give the plants a quick boost of nitrogen. The bushes love the nutrients, the family, not so much. Our middle granddaughter thinks it makes her gag! Honestly it smells like a nasty fish tank and parmesan cheese. When we spray, sprayer, mower and applicator all get washed! It’s a process we repeat every couple weeks from the time leaves begin appearing. We feed them to help get the best berries.
As COVID cases rise again and flu season begins, antioxidants and immune boosting should be a top priority.
We have been working with some great folks for a while and are proud to announce we are now carrying ElderFarms products. In addition, we are working hard to get more Aronia products labeled and brought to you as we work with another wonderful manufacturer.
The focus is on helping you get more antioxidants into your body in a way that will help you naturally prevent disease, ease pain, and help you recover.
We are debuting a few items this weekend with more to come soon at MyAroniaBerry.com Testimonial Woody and I babysit grandchildren and firmly believe in the power of purple! We create Aronia gummies for the kids, push Aronia/orange juice on them. We use the Elder Farms products we are now carrying as well as our own berries and juice. Last weekend, Woody developed a cold. Not so unusual given the time of year. Because of his age (85) we encouraged him to go to the doctor when he developed a fever. He didn’t want to share with me or the kids. Yes, he tested positive for COVID as I’m sure I would right now too. BUT, given his age and my weird sensitivities, we are doing very well. We can only attribute that to the prevention we have been doing all along. Yes we were vaccinated, but we also daily include Aronia and/or Elderberry/Aronia in our routine. Today, five days after he began having symptoms, he was outside walking around, doing some sightseeing and moving some stuff in the cab of the tractor. Honestly, the hardest part of COVID for us will be not seeing the girls.
Do yourself a favor – boost your immune system today!
After roller coaster ride of organic Aronia Berry farming, we finally feel like we’re on the roller coaster going up slowly. We are working with great partners who are creating wonderful Aronia products.
You can see for yourself the antioxidant rating of Aronia. They rank much higher than the blueberry or even cranberries that are so good for us. As we all struggle to stay healthy and build our immune systems, we need the antioxidant punch of Aronia.
One of the gentlemen we are working with has been encouraging over the last few years. When I was complaining about being sick and tired of cutting out the same trees over and over and fighting the weeds, he encouraged us to hang in there. He told us about a woman who tested the products he developed and way outlived the doctor’s grim prognosis. He has told us of folks who are living much better lives because of the Aronia berries and the products which are being developed. His exact words were “If you know you are helping others, you can pull a few more weeds.”
So as we keep pulling weeds, and cutting out stray trees, we are looking forward to bringing you these products. Keep watching or visit MyAroniaBerry.com to learn more.
By this time next week our fields will look drastically different, we will have had commercial harvesters pick our Aronia Berries. We’ll post pictures of the harvesting.
Lately we’ve been getting questions from small growers and folks at home who have berries, wondering why we haven’t picked them yet. Some people picked them when they first started turning purple because they look ripe.
We wait, sometimes impatiently, for the sugar content in the berries to rise. It helps our berries taste better than other berries which are harvested too early.
Our daughter says, “Sugar content?” (She’s not a fan of the fresh berries.) The sugar content in fruits vary from one to another. Aronia is a tart, dry, astringent berry that isn’t always a favorite of folks straight off the bush. We say it’s an acquired taste. Folks who aren’t really big sugar fans will enjoy the berries alone.
How Do I Know My Berries Are Ready?
The berries begin turning purple in July. Through August the berries fill out and ripen. If you have berries at home and wonder when to pick them, wait for the stems to change from green, to reddish, to dry and brown in color.
Berries themselves have a dimpled bottom. As the berries fill out and ripen, you will notice the dimpled area become more prevalent.
If you cut a berry in half, a ripe berry will be uniformly colored all the way through.
If you harvest too early, it’s fine, your berries just will not be as tasty and nutritious as possible. Next year, be patient.
You’ve heard the darker the fruit or veggie the better for you, right? You can’t get much darker than Aronia Berries. The nutritional value is amazing.
It’s time to see for yourself how they grow, learn about how to use them and pick your supply now. Join us at the farm the next couple of weeks to pick your own!
University studies have found a number of reasons to include Aronia in your daily diet. Read all about some of those studies in previous posts. But in a nutshell, they can improve cardiovascular health, balance blood pressure and regulate blood sugar and lipids.
Polyphenols, anothocyanins and compounds found in our berries are believed to be anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic. We encourage everyone to add a handful of berries in their diet daily.
Normally at this time of year we would be working with harvesters, hustling to find a refrigerated truck, pallets, and enough totes to hold all the harvest. This year there’s no competition with the Iowa State Fair’s need for refrigeration trucks because of COVID.
Because of the early spring cold weather and snow, the berries all fell off. We were crushed. Farming is like a roller coaster, highs and lows. Truly a low this year.
I’ve had folks call recently getting ready to come pick their own berries. Since there are none, we are offering them frozen berries. We have lots of those, so if you’re looking for Aronia Berries for your morning smoothies or berries to make wonderful jams, or to bake, we have you covered.
We’ve also sent bulk berries to folks interested in juicing their own berries. Oh the healthy possibilities!
The fields are a live with the sweet smell of Aronia! Each lovely little flower will develop into a beautiful, dark purple berry full of healthy anti-oxidant power. Amazing isn’t it?
If you’re interested in growing your own Aronia or how to use Aronia, look through the posts or leave me a comment, I’d love to share more about these powerful purple berries!
Fogles Organic Aronia Berries – A Homegrown Super Food!
