Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals
Field edge hedgerows have long been promoted by UC Cooperative Extension and other organizations as a way to bring needed biodiversity to California farms. However, adoption of hedgerow planting still falls far short of available edge capacity. Our study explores a new multifunctional model of hedge...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2024-02-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.94461 |
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| author | Sonja Brodt Gwenael Engelskirchen Katie Fyhrie |
| author_facet | Sonja Brodt Gwenael Engelskirchen Katie Fyhrie |
| author_sort | Sonja Brodt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Field edge hedgerows have long been promoted by UC Cooperative Extension and other organizations as a way to bring needed biodiversity to California farms. However, adoption of hedgerow planting still falls far short of available edge capacity. Our study explores a new multifunctional model of hedgerows that combines production with environmental conservation goals by considering the revenue potential of harvesting blue elderberry. Blue elderberry is a drought-tolerant native species well adapted to multiple microclimates in California and the western United States. The growth of elderberry herbal products and specialty foods markets is currently skyrocketing nationally and globally, and blue elderberry may offer a promising entry into these markets. Blue elderberry is also sought out by Indigenous people as one important component in efforts to restore cultural and food sovereignty. A field demonstration trial in the southern Sacramento Valley found that elderberry yields from 1,000-foot-long multi-species hedgerows could potentially provide from $2,000 to $3,000 in net annual revenue within 3 to 5 years, with much more possible as the hedgerows mature. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d25091a3dcf5409bb7eeb75d9d93bd8d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| record_format | Article |
| series | California Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-d25091a3dcf5409bb7eeb75d9d93bd8d2025-01-28T22:11:32ZengUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia Agriculture0008-08452160-80912024-02-01783-4Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goalsSonja BrodtGwenael EngelskirchenKatie FyhrieField edge hedgerows have long been promoted by UC Cooperative Extension and other organizations as a way to bring needed biodiversity to California farms. However, adoption of hedgerow planting still falls far short of available edge capacity. Our study explores a new multifunctional model of hedgerows that combines production with environmental conservation goals by considering the revenue potential of harvesting blue elderberry. Blue elderberry is a drought-tolerant native species well adapted to multiple microclimates in California and the western United States. The growth of elderberry herbal products and specialty foods markets is currently skyrocketing nationally and globally, and blue elderberry may offer a promising entry into these markets. Blue elderberry is also sought out by Indigenous people as one important component in efforts to restore cultural and food sovereignty. A field demonstration trial in the southern Sacramento Valley found that elderberry yields from 1,000-foot-long multi-species hedgerows could potentially provide from $2,000 to $3,000 in net annual revenue within 3 to 5 years, with much more possible as the hedgerows mature.https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.94461 |
| spellingShingle | Sonja Brodt Gwenael Engelskirchen Katie Fyhrie Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals California Agriculture |
| title | Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| title_full | Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| title_fullStr | Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| title_short | Native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| title_sort | native blue elderberry in hedgerows bridges revenue and conservation goals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.94461 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sonjabrodt nativeblueelderberryinhedgerowsbridgesrevenueandconservationgoals AT gwenaelengelskirchen nativeblueelderberryinhedgerowsbridgesrevenueandconservationgoals AT katiefyhrie nativeblueelderberryinhedgerowsbridgesrevenueandconservationgoals |