Aronia berries at UMES’ Research, Extension and Teaching Farm are ready to pick and the community is invited to participate Thursday, Aug. 14. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Small Farm Program is hosting an Aronia berry picking contest as part of a full-day event to learn about its nutritional value, cultivation and uses in jams, wine, and even dyes for hand-crafted items.
“We are inviting the community over to our farm for a berry-picking contest in the morning, followed by lunch and a choice of one of three classes in the afternoon to learn how to make either jam, wine or dyes,” said Dr. Nadine Burton (at right), alternative crop specialist with UMES Extension.
Also known as chokeberries due to their bitter taste before cooking, the native plant packs a nutritional punch when it comes to being low in calories, high in fiber and full of antioxidants, Burton said. They are also easy to grow.
“Aronia do well in a variety of soils and like it sunny. It’s a fun berry to grow in your backyard, or can be grown commercially. In addition to delicious and nutritional products to make, they have attractive flowering in the spring as a member of the rose family.”
The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. Members of four-man teams for the berry picking contest can register for half price. Pre-registration indicating the participant’s class selection (Wine Making, Jam Making or Arts and Crafts) is required at www.umes.edu/extension/events. For more information, email smallfarms@umes.edu.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
