Aronia Berries
Grown in America's Heartland
Coldbrook Farm is the largest aronia grower
in the state of Illinois. We grow and market premium fruit, irrigated
for milder flavor, processed in food safety audited facilities, and
tested and documented. Call us with your applications questions and
ingredient needs.
Agribusiness entrepreneur John Pilcher has
developed new products for beverage and baking, among them dried
sweetened aronia and a nutrition bar slated for distribution in the
Middle East.
ACRES USA featured his advanced growing methods.
WHAT'S NEW
U.S. ARONIA GROWER TO SPEAK IN CANADA
Crete, Illinois (February 1, 2017) – Canada’s premier horticultural event, the 2017 Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, is hosting John Pilcher, President of Coldbrook Farm Inc., Crete, to speak at its specialty berry session on February 23, 2017. Organizers expect overall Convention attendance by approximately 2,000 growers, would-be growers, and technical and industry representatives at Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The berry session will include Pilcher’s journey, “Aronia – Finding Higher Value,” in this emerging industry. Aronia (aronia melanocarpa), a high antioxidant pome fruit, is native to Canada and the United States.
Pilcher will discuss what he experienced and
observed among other growers during the establishment of his farm,
as aronia growing began to take hold in the American Midwest.
In an unstructured industry, aronia offered a challenge for growers:
how could they create higher value? Pilcher persevered. He developed
products for different market channels before uncovering higher value
in surprising simplicity.
For further information, contact Pilcher at
708-227-2807 or aronia.us@att.net.
COLDBROOK FARM IN WINE AND
AGRICULTURAL PUBLICATIONS
 Photo by James M. Theuri |
He identified points about
irrigation (to assure a mild flavor), soil type and isolation
from harmful spray drift. He also recommended mechanical
harvesting for volume and food safety, and processing and
frozen storage in an established food safety-audited facility.
Midwest Wine Press is the region’s sole outlet dedicated
to news about winemaking and marketing in the heartland. |
ARONIA BERRY SMOOTHIES DEBUT WITH R&D CHEF AT CHICAGO IFT
SUPPLIERS’ NIGHT
Crete,
Ill. (October 27, 2015) - Josh Cooper, guest chef for Spec Ingredients
Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, develops succulent, cost-effective,
health-oriented products (specingredients.com). He will introduce
aronia berries in smoothies on November 11 at the Chicago IFT Annual
Suppliers’ Night in the Spec Ingredients Inc. booth, #514, from 12:00
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont,
Illinois.
Cooper was recognized for Best in Segment at Fancy Food Shows in 2013
and 2014. He maintains that tasty, colorful aronia berries are ideally
suited to smoothies and add an extra benefit – more antioxidants than
cranberries, blueberries or goji berries, according to the USDA.
Cooper will also demo his savory aronia berry salsa.
The full-service Spec Ingredients Inc., offers premium natural and
organic products. Under the leadership of Linda Kirchen, the company
serves food manufacturers and chefs nationwide. Kirchen has a
particular knack for evaluating the potential of ingredients such as
aronia in new and existing products.
Grown at Coldbrook Farm near Momence, Illinois, this blending fruit
creates different flavor profiles and new colors in smoothies and
other foods you know and enjoy (ColdbrookFarm.net). Cooper will
incorporate some of the 29 wide-ranging fruits Coldbrook Farm Inc.,
has identified as blending easily with aronia berries, creating
dramatic colors and ambrosial flavors.
Stop by and have a sip! To schedule an appointment with Kirchen,
please call 414-839-4328.
26 FRUITS COMPATIBLE WITH FROZEN (IQF) ARONIA
Crete, Ill. (March 12, 2015) - The high antioxidant aronia
berry comes with a bonus – versatility. Combinations for the wide
range of dishes are almost endless with frozen (IQF) aronia from
Coldbrook Farm Inc. in Crete.
“We've uncovered an array,” says John E.
Pilcher, President, “and we're continuing beyond the 26. Many of the fruits are also compatible with our dried
sweetened product.”
DIABETES, OBESITY AND ARONIA EXTRACT
Crete, Ill. (February 2, 2015) - An article published in the British Journal of Nutrition covers the potential impact of aronia extract in treating diabetes, obesity, heart disease and inflammation. David Walsh, MRPharmS, BSc, a Pharmaceutical Journal online blogger, summarized the article for the general reader.
“We look forward to additional research using human subjects,” says John Pilcher, president of Coldbrook Farm Inc. in Crete, Illinois.
THANKSGIVING MENU HEALTHIER WITH ARONIA
BERRIES
Crete, Ill. (November 3, 2014) - Americans usually associate
Thanksgiving dinner with large helpings of turkey and high calorie
count, but don’t forget the fixings. This year, round out your
Thanksgiving menu with healthier side dishes, such as Antioxidant-Rich
Stuffing and Aronia Berry Bread.
LEADING FOOD MANUFACTURER USES ARONIA AS INGREDIENT
While demonstrating dried sweetened aronia
berries in a store, Coldbrook Farm Inc.
president John Pilcher watched a young father stop at the table with
samples. “His toddler, a three-year-old sitting in the kiddie seat in
the shopping cart,” Pilcher says, “reached for the sample in her
chubby little hands and tossed it down the hatch.” Three girls under
the age of 11 sampled with gusto at another demonstration. Their
father bought a tub of berries without even tasting them.
Midwestern grown aronia berries aren’t just for babies, little girls and fathers. For additional information about trends in dried sweetened and frozen (IQF) aronia, contact Pilcher at 708-227-2807 or aronia.us@att.net.
CHEESE
AND ARONIA? YOU BET!
Crete, Ill. (September 9, 2014) - “How America
Eats: Snacking Our Way through the Day,” a Hartman Group report
published July 30, based on a survey of 1,790 adults finds that the
heaviest snacking in the United States – 65 percent – occurs after
lunch. FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2014, indicates that 43
percent of 1,059 shoppers believe their main store will contribute to
their health and wellness.
FMI DEBUTS ARONIA, AMERICA’S ANTIOXIDANT BERRY
Crete, Ill. (May 19, 2014) - The Food Marketing
Institute will be debuting aronia, America’s antioxidant berry, on
Wednesday and Thursday June 11 and 12, 2014, at Chicago’s McCormick
Place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Event planners expect 6,100
attendees (4,000 buyers and brokers, domestic and international).
Among the exhibitors, Coldbrook Farm Inc. of Crete, Illinois, will
introduce dried sweetened aronia
berries in newly designed packaging and speak with interested
parties about frozen (IQF) aronia berries,
as well. Both are offered for export. Samples of dried sweetened
aronia berries, a healthy snack food, await visitors.
Irrigation makes Coldbrook Farm berries some of the mildest on the
planet. In addition, irrigation assures a more uniform size than the
non-irrigated counterparts. These healthy berries are North American
grown and new to many buyers.
“They scored extremely high in antioxidants in the 2009 USDA ORAC
Survey,” reports John Pilcher, president of Coldbrook Farm, “second
only to black raspberries and way above blueberries and cranberries.
We use sustainable growing methods – all without herbicides
or synthetic pesticides.”
Pilcher is forming an alliance of growers in six states. “We’re
pleased to be joining exhibitors at FMI,” he comments. Coldbrook Farm
counts among its clients the Midwestern grocery chains Hy-Vee and
Schnucks.
HIGHLY VERSATILE INGREDIENTS: FROZEN (IQF) AND DRIED ARONIA BERRIES
Crete, Ill. (May 5, 2014) - The versatility of
high-antioxidant aronia berries, frozen (IQF) or dried, is
demonstrated by food manufacturers and chefs as they incorporate this dark
purple fruit in baked goods, such as energy bars, breads and pies, and
gourmet chocolates.
“The RazzyJazzy-Aronia Pie™ we’ve developed is a
perfect example.” reports John Pilcher, president of Coldbrook Farm
Inc. in Crete, Illinois. “Its blend of red raspberries with aronia
berries creates an ambrosial, attractive way to end a meal.
We've also developed recipes for
dried
sweetened aronia.”
Aronia berries take on new flavors with apples, strawberries, peaches,
oranges, cherries, red raspberries and pears. Irrigation imparts
Coldbrook Farm aronia berries with a milder flavor than unirrigated
berries. They are grown without herbicides or synthetic
pesticides and are available for export.
MANUFACTURER FORECASTS HIGH PROFILE FOR ARONIA BERRIES
Crete, Ill. (February 1, 2014) - Bell Flavors & Fragrances, a global
marketer of flavors and fragrances headquartered in Northbrook, Ill.,
predicted in the January 8 newsletter of the Institute of Food Technologists
that
aronia berries will be the fourth highest flavor trend this year.
The hardy high-antioxidant aronia berries originated in
Purdue University Extension and University of Illinois Extension will feature
Pilcher on “Aronia Berries” at the Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium,
rescheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at 2:30 p.m. CST at Teibel's Restaurant,
located at 1775 US Highway Route 41, Schererville, Ind.
Pilcher works with growers around the country to promote this remarkable fruit.
He specializes in
sweetened dried aronia berries.
ILLIANA VEGETABLE GROWERS SYMPOSIUM TO FEATURE ARONIA BERRIES
Crete, Ill. (November 22, 2013) - Purdue University and University of
Illinois Extension will host John Pilcher, president of Coldbrook Farm Inc., Crete,
Ill., at its annual Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. Pilcher,
Illinois' largest aronia berry producer, will speak about "Aronia: A New Alternative." The all-day program will be held from 8:00 a.m. CST to 4:00 p.m. CST at Teibel's Restaurant in Schererville, Ind. Attendees are expected from Indiana,
Illinois and Michigan.
Pilcher will talk about how blueberry growers phasing out mature stands can make a gradual transition into aronia production for diversification. To accelerate their return on investment, he recommends planting plugs rather than slips, which shouldn't affect cost. With
existing irrigation and established rows, the transition is relatively easy. Some crop will appear in the second year and by the third year, a stand may be profitable.
Pilcher works with growers who want to diversify and he markets frozen (IQF) and dried aronia berries wholesale. Schnucks and Hy-Vee are two large Midwestern grocery chains that carry Coldbrook Farm's dried sweetened aronia berries.
FRUIT GROWER? HIGH-VALUE CROP FIELD DAY AT ILLINOIS' LEADER IN FROZEN (IQF) AND DRIED ARONIA BERRIES
Crete, Ill. (July 14, 2013) - On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 from
9:30 a.m. CDT to noon, Coldbrook Farm Inc. will host Aronia Field Day
in Momence, Ill., co-sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, Trickl-Eez Co., HH Wild Plums Inc. and McKibben Manufacturing Inc.
Coldbrook Farm's John Pilcher will speak about the profitability of
this remarkable fruit, which is disease-resistant.
It offers an easy transition for fruit growers who irrigate. Aronia
berries, with stands that last 25 years, are also attractive to growers
looking for a legacy crop to pass to the next generation.
James M. Theuri, local food systems and small farms educator at the University
of Illinois Extension, will be speaking about "The Suitability of Aronia
for Midwestern Growers." Doug Foster, district sales manager at St. Joseph, Mich.’s Trickl-Eez, will cover “Drip Irrigation for Aronia.” Tammy Melcher, sales manager at Clarkson, Neb.’s HH Wild Plums, will speak about “How Our Nursery Grows Aronia Stock.” Jeff McKibben, president at Grand Junction, Mich.'s McKibben Manufacturing, will talk about "Blueberry Harvesters for Aronia Growers."
Coldbrook Farm includes among its accounts regional grocers Schnucks
and Hy-Vee, and other outlets in Illinois and Indiana. It also markets
to wholesale buyers.
Register for this free event by calling the Extension office at 815-933-8337
by August 27, 2013. For additional information, email aronia.us@att.net.
ANNUAL MEETING OF MIDWEST ARONIA ASSOCIATION TO HOST AGRIBUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR
Crete, Ill. (March 12, 2013) - Members of the Midwest Aronia Association will be convening for its annual conference April 4-6 in Des Moines, Iowa. The organization is national, with membership throughout North America. On Friday, April 5, agribusiness entrepreneur John E. Pilcher will be a featured speaker. He is president of Coldbrook Farm Inc.
Approximately 140 aronia growers and marketers are expected to hear "Our Natural Advantage," in which Pilcher will discuss how he backed into marketing, the role of entrepreneurs and innovators in the industry and the future of aronia. Coldbrook Farm sweetened dried aronia berries are offered through major regional grocery chains and other market channels.
ARONIA BERRIES ARRIVE AT SCHNUCKS
Crete, Ill. (December 11, 2012) - Coldbrook Farm’s dried sweetened aronia berries have arrived at Schnucks stores, joining an impressive list of dried natural fruit products offered by the St. Louis-based grocery retailer.
Although the juice has long been an ingredient in antioxidant fruit juice blends, Coldbrook Farm dried sweetened aronia berries are the first North American-grown offered by major regional grocery chains. With no sugar added, no fat and no cholesterol, they can be eaten as a healthy snack or added to an array of dishes, including dinner entrees.
Aronia berries, originating in
