Aronia (or chokeberry) is a beautiful ornamental and edible native shrub that produces huge, blue-black berries that are one of the world’s most antioxidant-rich foods. The shrub is also valued for its stunning red and orange fall color, attractive leaf shape and full shape (3’-4’ tall and wide). Recent peer-reviewed studies have shown aronia berry juice to slow cancerous growth, fight insulin resistance and improve liver function in small mammals (human studies are forthcoming). While the berry is a bit dry for fresh eating (our son loved them straight from the plant last summer!), we harvest the berries, dehydrate them and then tincture them for many months to extract the nutritional constituents of the berry. We take the tincture daily under the tongue for added Vitamin C, folate and manganese.While we can’t make any health claims, we do highly value this exciting plant and its importance in our lives.