WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT

We do not forage for our berries.  We cultivate and nurture native American black elders (sambucus spp. canadensis) for their superior fruit, and a small number of "wild" blue elder plants (sambucus cerulea) for their fragrant flowers.  We wash and float our elderberries so we can eliminate under-ripe berries (approximately 16%) so that our products have only the ripest, highest quality ingredients.  We live in harmony with wildlife on the farm, seeing each challenge as a learning experience about the symbiotic relationships of flora and fauna.  

We are committed to bringing to market top-quality, premium elderberries grown in the full sun of the mountainous Rogue Valley.  We micro-harvest by hand, by the morning light, on days of peak ripeness. Once destemmed, our fruit is triple washed and undergoes a deselection process eliminating under-ripe berries, ensuring only the highest quality & ripest elderberries remain.  We deep-freeze to sub-zero temperatures on the day of harvest to lock in freshness.   In product making we process with minimal heat, to maximize the antioxidant benefit of the rich polyphenols and fruit anthocyanins while also maintaining the quality of our raw honey. We avoid using plastics whenever possible and bottle in glass containers.  Your health and our Earth are the reason for all the details. 

While our small, family farm is not certified organic, we are wholly committed to using organic practices and OMRI-listed products in the production of our elderberries and elderflowers. The land where our elders grow was fallow for three years prior to the establishment of VitalBerry Farm in 2020.  In 2023 we added honeybees. We avoid tilling and only add to the soil.  We use drip line irrigation to reduce water use. We are proud to be using natural and regenerative practices that work in harmony with the environment.

 Helping others learn about the emerging American elderberries market is an important part of our mission.  We want our community to learn the importance of this  vital plant, native to North America, and how to incorporate its benefits in their lives without the fear created by a misinformed public.  The American Elderberry (spp. canadensis) is uniquely different than the better-known European variety (nigra).  We hope that we can dispel many of the myths.  Lastly, we provide guidance on how to make the most of your VitalBerry Farm purchase to be used throughout the year.  See our RESOURCES page for creative and delicious uses.