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New York Farm Viability Institute

A Strong Future for New York Agriculture

Project Profiles

NYFVI-Funded Project Helps Grower Transition to Black Currants

When Curt Rhodes ended his 40-year career as a fifth generation vegetable farmer he did not leave farming. Having read about Hudson Valley grower Greg Quinn’s successful campaign for the repeal of the New York State ban on growing black currants, Rhodes applied for a New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. (NYFVI) specialty crops grant (made possible by funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets) in 2004.

With a $10,000 grant and help from Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator Judson Reid, Rhodes planted a one-acre trial of black currants on his Penn Yan farm and his new career as a fruit producer was off to a strong start. A year later, he planted 17 more acres of black currants.

Rhodes sold his first harvest to Montezuma Winery owner Bill Martin. Early in September 2006, Martin, who uses only locally-grown fruits, was in the early stages of making his first black currant wine.

“I can foresee a wine with beautiful color, earthy character and lots of flavor,” Martin says. “We will blend the black currants with apples to make a new product that will be interesting for consumers and will make an important contribution to our product line in 2007.”

Through the NYFVI-funded value-added program, Rhodes is working with Dr. Olga Padilla-Zakour at Cornell University’s New York State Food Venture Center at Geneva, NY, to develop his own black currant-based products.

“As we develop the new products, we will evaluate the levels of beneficial antioxidants and vitamins in each product,” Padilla-Zakour says.

Rhodes has adopted the name Fingerlakes Black Currant Company for his new enterprise and will adorn his anticipated products with a copyright-free historic currants label found in an antique shop in Canandaigua.

Rhodes harvested his first acre of black currants by hand. He says, “The first year I only expected 1,000 pounds on the acre. I plan on harvesting 2,500 to 3,000 pounds per acre in future years. This has been such a successful venture already that I will invest in a mechanical harvester.”

For More Info:
Curt Rhodes
Fingerlakes Black Currant Company
585-526-5628