Good Practice - Project
Organic Aronia berry (chokeberry) processing project
A business start-up used CAP funds to invest in processing equipment to create organic chokeberry products, which are sold through short supply chains.
General information
RDP Priority
- P2. Competitiveness
RDP Focus Area
- 2A: Farm’s performance, restructuring & modernisation
RDP Measure
- M04: Investments in physical assets
Summary
Chokeberries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and considered a ‘superfood’. It can be consumed in teas, infusions, fruit juices and elixirs. On noticing that chokeberries were not widely commercially processed or utilised in Finland, the founders of the ‘Ab Finnish Superberries Oy’ company saw an opportunity. Their business start-up was established in 2019 and an initial investment project, supported by CAP funds, contributed to the acquisition of machines and equipment for the processing of Aronia berries.
Results
Ab Finnish Superberries Oy now processes organic Aronia berry juice and flour for sale on the local, national and Nordic market and through their online shop and local short supply chains.
The company turnover was EUR 284 000 in 2021 and it provided full-time employment for one person.
Promoter
Ab Finnish Superberries Oy
Funding
Total budget 124 264.10 (EUR)
EAFRD 18 266.82 (EUR)
National/Regional 25 225.61 (EUR)
Private 80 771.67 (EUR)
Resources
Documents
Organic Aronia berry (chokeberry) processing project
(PDF – 3.45 MB)
Context
Chokeberries are considered a superfood because they are very rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Some of their many health benefits include the presence of antioxidants that protect human cells and DNA, as well as flavonoid antioxidants that protect eyes by helping to filter out ultraviolet rays. Chokeberries provide good cardiovascular protection and they regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The fruit can be consumed in the form of teas, infusions, juices and elixirs. However, despite their value as a superfood, chokeberries have not been widely commercially processed or utilised. The ‘Ab Finnish Superberries Oy’ company was established for this purpose in 2019 on the West Coast of Finland, in the Mustasaari municipality of the region Ostrobothnia.
Objectives
The aim of this project was to support the business startup to acquire the machinery and equipment for processing Aronia berries.
Activities
The 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme provided a 35% subsidy for the purchase and installation of mustering and milling machines, a drier, pasteurising machines, bottling machines and a labelling machine.
Main results
Ab Finnish Superberries Oy now processes organically produced Aronia berries into juice and flour. The new equipment enables better preservation of the antioxidants and vitamins and thus increases the retail value of the products.
At the same time, processed berries are easier to pack, store, transport and process further, which attracts a larger market across a larger geographical area. The sale of the products is initially concentrated on the local, national and Nordic market, through the online shop and local short supply chains (https://finnishsuperberries.com/en/). In the coming years, sales will be expanded to include the international market.
The company turnover was EUR 284 000 in 2021 and it provided full-time employment for one person.
Key lessons
Demand for "superfoods" is increasing worldwide, and chokeberry cultivated in Finland has a special position as a raw material because here there are favourable weather and geographical conditions for its cultivation. Greater awareness of the market potential of this organic superfood product may persuade other farmers to develop it as a new, alternative crop.
“Our Aronia products have just entered the shelves of Kesko, the second biggest supermarket chain in Finland.”
Gallina Sandås, wife of Jan-Ole and family farmer on the Sandås farm