Iowa State needs aronia berry jam, jelly samples

AMES ? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach food safety specialists need Iowans? help in acquiring samples of aronia berry jam and jelly for an upcoming ISU Extension and Outreach research project titled ?Establishing a Standard of Identity for Jams and Jellies Made from Aronia Berries.?

Aronia is a woody perennial shrub in the family Rosacea, and is native to the eastern United States. The hardy Zone 3 plant can be found in wet woods and swamps. The name Aronia, better known as black chokeberry, is now considered to be an intergeneric hybrid.

Currently, aronia berries are not among the fruits approved for making jams or jellies under the Food and Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 150 Section 150.160, and cannot be sold to any market without validation that the recipe meets the standard of identity for fruit preserves, jams or jellies. The ISU Extension and Outreach research team wants to collect samples with the goal to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with guidance related to the aronia berry being added to the approved fruit list.

To participate, three items are needed:

? Two to three separate batches of aronia berry jam or jelly in jars;

? The recipe, which will not be shared, for how it was made;

? One pound of aronia berries used for the batch of preserves, along with the date and location of the harvest.

Those interested in participating should send the items with their contact information including name, address, phone number and email to Lester Wilson, 2312 Food Science Building, Ames 50011.

Participants will receive $30 cost and shipping stipend. A reimbursement form will be sent upon receipt of the three items. Participants also will receivethe product analysis results if the samples meet the standard of identity for the FDA?s approved fruit list.

For more information, contact ISU Extension and Outreach food safety specialists Lester Wilson, lawilson@iastate.edu or Angela Shaw, angelaml@iastate.edu.

This research project is funded by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.