Ames, IA -- Iowa State University’s Farm Progress Show exhibit will highlight topics on food and human health including an Aronia berry project, how 70 is the new 50, and facts on high fructose corn syrup.

Aronia berries are becoming popular for their health benefits, containing higher levels of antioxidants than elderberries, cranberries, blueberries, grapes, and most other fruits. Aronia berries are dark black or purple, grown on a deciduous shrub native to the Midwest. When the berries are eaten fresh they have a sour, astringent taste. However when processed into Aronia wine, jams, jellies, juice, salsa, tea, syrup and baked goods the Aronia take on a whole new delicious flavor.

Eldon Everhart, Extension horticulture field specialist, and Clint McDonald, Harrison County Extension Director, have been working to develop an Aronia industry in Iowa and a local market for the berries.

“ISU Extension is helping to give guidance to a new and hopefully successful farming venture that could be used by family farmers throughout Iowa,” said Everhart.

Vaughn and Cindy Pittz of Missouri Valley, Iowa, have been growing Aronia berries for the last 10 years. The Pittz farm, Sawmill Hollow Organic Farms, is the leader in organically grown Aronia berry production in the Midwest and they have the largest Aronia plantation in the United States. Aronia plants are easy to grow, disease and insect resistant making them ideal for organic farming.

Another display in the Iowa State University exhibit will examine the myth that high fructose corn syrup causes obesity.

“High fructose corn syrup is calorically and chemically the same as sucrose,” says Ruth Litchfield, Extension nutrition specialist. The problem is that high fructose corn syrup is cheaper and has therefore made sweetened foods more readily available for consumers to eat.

In the “70 is the new 50” display, visitors can get some simple home exercise tips to stay healthy and active. Less than one-third of Americans 65 and older get regular physical activity. Things such as keeping an exercise calendar and talking-and-walking outings with a partner are simple ways to start being active. In addition, Extension staff will be demonstrating a new Sensewear device that is an upgrade from pedometers.

Other things to check out at the Iowa State University exhibit at the show near Boone Aug. 26-28 are:

• The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative will highlight the work done in Iowa communities to promote healthy lifestyles by supporting locally grown food and creating areas for physical activity and play.
• The “Building local food connections” display will showcase Iowa success stories where marketing connections helped local farmers and producers sell their products to customers.
• Find out actions that can be taken to increase food security in the “Food for all Iowans” display. In Iowa, 421,000 people do not have enough food to eat and the percentage of Iowans receiving Food Assistance in 2007 rose 17 percent from 2005.
• In a display trailer explore two different bathrooms:  one with universal design features that accommodate a lifetime of living; the other is specifically designed for people who use wheelchairs.

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