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A research project in Iowa is needing samples of aronia berry jam or jelly. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach food safety specialists are collecting jams and jellies for their project. Aronia is also known as black chokeberry and is considered an intergeneric hybrid.

The goal is to help the Food and Drug Administration establish a standard identity for aronia berry jams and jellies and have it added to the approved fruit list. Currently, aronia berries are not among fruits approved for making jams or jellies under FDA regulations and cannot be sold to any market without validation that it meets standards.

To participate in the study, three items are needed:
1. Two to three separate batches of aronia berry jam or jelly in jars.
2. The recipe for how it was made (this information will not be shared).
3. One pound of fresh or frozen aronia berries used for the batch of preserves (along with the date and location of the harvest).
The three required items along with personal contact information (name, address, phone number and email) should be sent be to:
     Lester Wilson
     Iowa State University
     2312 Food Science Building
     Ames, IA 50011

Samples may be submitted up to July 1, 2016. Participants will receive a $30 cost and shipping stipend (a reimbursement form will be sent upon receipt of the three items); and the product analysis results (if the samples meet the standard of identity for the FDA’s approved fruit list).

Contact Iowa State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Professor Lester Wilson, lawilson@iastate.edu, 515-294-3889 or ISU Extension and Outreach Food Safety Specialist Angela Shaw, angelaml@iastate.edu, 515-294-0868 to have any questions answered about the research project and submitting samples.

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.