Midwest Aronia Association Presents 3rd Annual Conference - "Back to the Basics and Beyond"

AVON, IL, March 14, 2013 (Press-News.org) Midwest Aronia Association will hold their 2013 conference, open to both members and non-members, in Des Moines, Ia, April 4th, 5th, and 6th. This annual Midwest event is the largest gathering of aronia growers in the nation, drawing speakers and attendees from across the United States, as well as internationally, to network, learn and share about the aronia berry. Aronia has been introduced in recent years as a value-added sustainably grown crop, and researchers are discovering numerous health benefits in the dark purple berry.

The MAA is excited to announce the schedule of speakers and topics, including keynote speaker, John R. Whitaker, Iowa State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, who will talk about Opportunities and the Family Farm.

The Midwest Aronia Association is a non-profit group whose focus is education concerning aronia. Main goals include assisting growers, and re-establishing aronia as a healthy staple in modern diets by introducing aronia berries to consumers. Many that grow aronia have more questions than answers, and this year's conference will try to inform attendees about the growing basics and advanced growing techniques. Researchers will share their knowledge and insight in a number of presentations during the 3 day conference, and breakout sessions this year will allow attendees to choose topics that have the most impact on their operation.

Speaker topics include best management practices, cultivar varieties, frost protection, legal perspectives of cooperatives and formation of the North America Aronia Cooperative, processing update, research on the benefits of anthocyanins on cancer, and the formation of a National Aronia Council.

Conference roster information can be viewed at: http://midwestaronia.org/conference-schedule-2013/

Thursday's events will include an aronia overview and an open discussion with growers to promote one-on-one networking. The annual business meeting and election of board members will be held on Friday, April 5th, followed by an awards ceremony that will recap advancements made in the aronia industry in 2012. Of particular note, will be the Aronia Promoter of the Year award, which will be given out to a young 4-Her, Stacey Rosener, for her talented efforts and achievements in using aronia in exhibits at the Crawford County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. A banquet and keynote speaker Secretary John Whitaker will conclude Friday's events. The conference will wrap up on Saturday afternoon.

For more information about this once-a-year opportunity, or to register to attend, please visit: http://midwestaronia.org/conference-2013/

The Midwest Aronia Association is a non-profit organization whose focus is education concerning aronia for growers, suppliers, and consumers. Additional details about the association can be found at: www.midwestaronia.org