Willsboro Research Farm

Large-scale specialty fruit trials include wild and cultivated varieties of juneberries, aronia berries, honeyberries, and elderberries. Researchers evaluate which varieties perform best in Northern New York and how to optimize growing conditions. 

All four of these ‘super fruits’ are valued for their high phytonutrient and antioxidant content, and together, they provide continuous fruit crops from early June to late September.

Honeyberries are extremely cold-hardy, and shrubs can withstand temperatures of -55F. They flower early and berries are ripe in June. The trials include numerous cultivars with large, exceptionally flavorful fruit. In Japan the tasty berries are known as haskaps - elixir of longevity.

Juneberries will ripen in July. The juneberry trials, established at Willsboro Research Farm in 2013, include 13 wild variety lines grown from seed, along with commercial cultivars. This blueberry look-alike is praised for its flavor, nutritional value and commercial potential.

Aronia berries produce an abundance of fruit in August and September. They are more pest resistant than other berries and are exceptionally nutritious. The astringent berries are best used as an addition to smoothies, jams and juices. Consumer demand for aronia has grown rapidly in recent years.

Elderberry trials include American and European varieties. Fruit ripens in late summer/fall. The great majority of elderberries consumed in the U.S. are currently imported from Europe, presenting an opportunity for growers in the Northeast to build a substantial domestic market.