Recently, Agriculture and Horticulture Agents across the state began receiving questions regarding growing elderberries as a commercial crop. Based on the increased interest, Dr. Shawn Wright, UK Horticulture Specialist, reached out to the Horticulture Agent in Madison County to host a regional meeting.

Agents across the state advertised the free program that was scheduled for June.

At the meeting, Dr. Wright spoke to the group about production of elderberries. He also discussed native plants that looked similar to elderberries, nutrition and potential health benefits and marketing. Ali Hewett from Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) talked to the group about programs her organization offers to help farmers such as writing business plans and identifying funding opportunities.

At the end of the meeting, the Agent evaluated the participants and found:

1. 56% of participants currently grew elderberries.
   1. Number of plants being grown ranged from 10 to 270.
2. 100% said they learned something during the class that will help them improve their overall elderberry productivity. Broken down by most useful topics (participants checked all that applied)
   1. Site selection: 44%
   2. Pest and disease management: 89%
   3. Harvesting and processing: 44%
   4. Marketing and value added: 44%
   5. Specific topics that helped: raised bed methods, business plan info, irrigation, look-a- like plants, production specifics
3. When asked the value of the information provided by the class, 89% of participants said they would have been willing to pay over $10 to attend class.
   1. One person said they valued the class at $5000 and another said while the information was valuable but they weren’t sure of the monetary value.