News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.comAronia Berry Means Sweet Business For Local Farm

Aronia Berry Means Sweet Business For Local Farm

Cranberries, blueberries and pomegranate are all berries that we're familiar with but one berry you may be unfamiliar with is the aronia berry which is an up and coming super fruit and the first commercial farm was started right here in Iowa.

Sawmill Hollow Organic Farm is leading the way in the aronia berry market.

In lamens terms you may know the this berry as the choke berry. It was in 1995 that the Pittz family started the very first aronia berry farm in the United States.

"No one else was growing it and it grows well here in Iowa supposedly. So we decided to plant 207 plants in the U.S. and give it a shot," tells Andrew Pittz with Sawmill Hollow.

Now that number has grown to thousands of plants due to the berries growing popularity.

Right now the plants are just starting to blossom and it won't be until the end of the summer that the berries will be completely ripe and ready to eat.

But how do they taste?

The aronia berry has a unique taste that is distinct and pleasant but on the opposite side of things it also is bitter and can make your lips pucker like a cranberry.

But if you don't want to eat it there are other options such as jelly, wine and supplements that are good and most importantly good for you.

"We have double the antioxidants of the acai berry and 3 times that of the blueberry and way more than the pomegranate. It seems that the aronia berry very well could be the next super fruit," tells Pittz

Due to the high level of antioxidants this berry is said to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The farm is also expanding its product line here in Siouxland. You can buy their wine and supplements at the Hamilton Hy–Vee.