DEVELOPING A US PRODUCED ELDERBERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE FOR DOMESTIC AND EXPORT MARKETS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1006742
• Grant No.: 2015-33610-24224
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $499,991.00
• Proposal No.: 2015-04318
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2015
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2018
• Grant Year: 2015
• Program Code: [8.12]- Small and Mid-Size Farms

Recipient Organization
Eldertide LLC
555 Gardiner Road
Dresden,ME 04342

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
A B2B market is well-established in the US for imported elderberries.This results in millions of dollars going abroad annually that could stay in the US supporting networks of small and mid-size farms. We will develop a pilot scale process to produce elderberry concentrate, and we will provide support for full time farmers who seek to grow elderberries as a high value specialty crop. We will develop a national branding and marketing strategy for Phase III commercialization efforts. Success alliows Eldertide to enter an existing B2B market and eventually export the concentrate.

Animal Health Component

90%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

5%

Applied

90%

Developmental

5%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
501	1129	2000	100%

Knowledge Area
501 - New and Improved Food Processing Technologies;

Subject Of Investigation
1129 - Berries and cane fruits, general/other;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Keywords

maine

concentrate

elderberry

export

import

juice

organic

Goals / Objectives
Goal: Develop a US Produced Elderberry Juice Concentrate for Domestic and Export MarketsProject Objectives: 1) Create a manufacturing process design; 2) Establish the framework supporting a B2B elderberry cooperative; and 3) Develop a national and global branding and marketing strategy.

Project Methods
Scientific inquiry with results confirmed through analytical chemical and microbiological assays and evaluations; and experiential learning opportunities, extension, outreach, and consumer response.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The University of Maine Extension has and continues to disseminate information to farmers who are interested in work and research regarding elderberry production and marketing. Working with Eldertide, a grower's group continues to have meetings to share information. The group also has an on line presence. Eldertide is continuing to develop its concentration technology, and implement the marketing plan developed within this project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We successfully reached our project objectives: 1) We created a manufacturing process design; 2) We established the framework supporting a B2B elderberry cooperative; and 3) We developed a national and global branding and marketing strategy.

Publications

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We now have a Maine Elderberry Growers Assocaition led by Tori Jackson, at The University of Maine Extension, an outcome of the University's effort to provide a framework for elderberry support for small and mid-size farms in Maine. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Web site, Facebook and infformal meetings at University of Maine Extension Office. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Eldertide is working with a patent atty to protect the intellectual property arising from this grant.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goals #1 and #2 are met and #3 is in progress, scheduled to be completed by the end of the grant. We are holding preliminary meetings regarding the development of the branding and marketing strategy.

Publications

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this period our first and second objectives objective moved forward with notable success. Objective #1: Create a manufacturing process design: We developed and refined a manufacturing process design and initiated our first production run of elderberry juice concentrate at the pilot scale. Objective #2 Establish the framework supporting a B2B elderberry cooperative: Working with the University of Maine Extension and others we took steps to create the framework for the B2B elderberry cooperative. Tasks included meetings with potential growers, initiating plans for elderberry trials at UMaine Extension, developing the frameworks for both an enterprise budget and best practices for growing elderberries at a commercial scale.

Publications