While blueberries, pomegranate and cranberries are well known in the American Health market as antioxidant rich superfruit, the aronia berry is joining their ranks. In fact, aronia has three times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries, according to Artemis International, Fort Wayne, IN, a marketer of dark-pigmented, health promoting berry-based ingredients and provider of elderberry and black currant.

In order to raise awareness about aronia, the company has partnered with the Food and Wellness Group.
 
This very dark, very tart-tasting berry leads all other berries in anthocyanin and proanthocyanin content, the companies explained. These two flavonoids have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and a wide range of potential benefits including heart health and cancer prevention. With polyphenolic content significantly higher than mainstream fruit like blueberries, cranberries, Concord grapes and pomegranates, as well as other less-familiar exotic superfoods like acai, aronia has great potential in the U.S. market.
 
Artemis noted that the choice of the Portland-Maine-based Food and Wellness Group to lead the marketing charge was strategic: this is the team that first developed and marketed the science-based antioxidant (ORAC) and colorful phytochemical story.
 
Jan Mills, president and CEO of Artemis International, commented, “We aronia people tend to be very passionate about our products and the benefits of these dark berries. We’re very excited to work with the Food and Wellness Group and to help this industry take off,” said Mills.
 
Leslie Gallo, vice president of operations for Artemis Farms, stated, “Product developers looking for novel and healthy ingredient forms will soon discover the unique health-promoting attributes of aronia berries and what we call Tart-Healthy Taste. Early adopters like Eric Helms, founder of Juice Generation juice bars in New York introduced the Aronia All-Star smoothie, and RW Knudsen recently launched Just Aronia Juice at selected retail stores, both of which reflect the emerging U.S. interest in this healthy, native berry.”
 
John Sauve, managing partner of the Food and Wellness Group said his marketing team will utilize their years of experience with wild blueberries to help Artemis Farms accelerate awareness and demand for aronia berries. “We will be working closely with research scientists to further identify and validate the health properties of aronia,” said Mr. Sauve. “These talented researchers and their health-related research will play a major role in advancing the aronia story as the flavonoid superstar,” he added.
 
Artemis International and Artemis Farms are part of the Artemis family of brands, providing berry-based ingredients to the functional food, beverage and nutraceutical industries as well as a line of BerryDark Aronia branded ingredient and retail products.