Honeyberries are gaining recognition as an up-and-coming “superfood.” The plant, introduced to Iowa over the last decade, is gaining interest from consumers and growers alike.
"Though the berries are small, they pack a big punch when it comes to purported health benefits,” said Brooke Dietsch, a graduate student in plant pathology, who has been helping lead a project studying the success of honeyberry under Iowa conditions at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station.
According to a review of honeyberry-related health studies published in the journal Molecules, the nutritious fruit has abundant phytocompounds that are known to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.
“Honeyberries are shaping up as a good alternative to blueberries for a variety of reasons, including that they are better suited to Iowa soils and weather conditions,” said Suzanne Slack, former fruit specialist at Iowa State.
To grow well, blueberries need very acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5), which is rare in Iowa. Growers can slowly lower soil pH to those levels, but it will gradually rise again and need ongoing adjustment. Honeyberries don’t need soil as acidic as blueberries, though in some Iowa soils the pH may still need a slight reduction to prevent nutrient issues.
Source : iastate.edu