Antioxidant-rich aronia 'superberries' are centerpiece of Woonsocket business
From The Daily Republic (US)
A dedicated couple is working to help others improve their health and well-being through a newly rediscovered “superberry.” Emily and Richard George, of rural Woonsocket, moved to the area five years ago from Pennsylvania. Richard’s aunt had suggested they visit to check out a farm for sale. They fell in love with the landscape and the people, and decided to move away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“We had a goal to start some kind of business to supplement our income,” Emily said.
Emily, 44, works in the human resources department at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, and Richard, 47, drives truck for Swenson Brothers Grain in Woonsocket.
They started their venture last year by planting several hundred aronia bushes.
The Aronia berry is a native plant to North America, often called the superberry in contemporary culture because it has high levels of antioxidants and has been proven to help improve the immune system, according to “The Power of Nature,” a book written by Iwona Wawer. He is a Polish scientist who has studied the benefits of the Aronia berry.