A New Fruit for Processing: Autumnberry,
Aki-gumi, or Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

 Organic Farming Possibilities

• Tolerates poor soils
• Requires little/no fertilizer
• Minimal pest problems
• Precocious fruiting
• Yield: up to 18 pounds/plant (6,500 lbs per acre) on 4-year-old shrubs

Easily harvested 

• By Hand
• By Machine

Flavorful fruit can be:

• consumed fresh
• processed into jams, jellies and sauces
• dried into fruit leather

And to Top it off...An Excellent source of the Anti-oxidant Lycopene! Rich source of carotenoids including: Lycopene, Phytoene, a- and ß-cryptoxanthin, and ß-carotene.

USDA Disclaimer on Autumn Olive
Autumn olive plants do not spread by root suckering, but can be quite persistent once established, growing back from the roots when cut down or mowed off. Due to this persistent nature, seed dispersal by wildlife, and the ability to thrive in poor soils, feral populations of autumn olive have established throughout the Eastern U.S. As a result, autumn olive is now on the federal invasive species list. However, a number of important crop species and landscape plants are similarly listed. Due to this listing, autumn olive should not be planted for fruit production where it is not already established as this could facilitate the further spread of this species. Further, the plant is listed as a noxious weed in West Virginia and New Hampshire.

Some Sources of Nursery Selections of Autumnberry:

Hidden Springs Nursery 170 Hidden Springs Lane Cookeville, TN 38501 Phone: (931) 268-2592	Northwoods Nursery, Inc. 28696 S. Cramer Road Molalla, OR 97038 Phone: (503) 651-3737
Lake County Nursery, Inc. Rt. 84, P.O. Box 122 Perry, OH 44081-0122 Phone: 1-800-522-5253 (One patented cultivar only,"Titan" is dense and upright growing, suitable for hedges.)

"Commercial Endorsement Disclaimer"
"The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this webpage is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Agricultural Research Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable."