Elderberry Science + Resources

Elder Farms is one of the leading sources of American Elderberry in the United States. Elderberry has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy for its aid with the immune system and upper respiratory conditions. In recent years, elderberry has held true to its historical use as studies have proven its efficacy. Our all-natural, American-grown elderberry products are loaded with vitamins, potassium, iron, zinc, and powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. We believe in using 100% American Elderberry and all certified organic ingredients in our products to provide the best possible value for our customers and to make a positive impact on the environment and people’s health. 

Making the Case for the American Elderberry

According to estimates, roughly 99% of elderberry products found in the marketplace here in America contain imported elderberry from Europe. This is elderberry that has been dried down and/or powderized, and normally water or vegetable glycerin has been added to constitute a ‘syrup’ base. European elderberry is known as Sambucus nigra and has been used primarily because of a lack of commercialized elderberry here in America. Within the last 20 or so years, there have been major efforts to establish a commercialized elderberry industry here in America by setting up farmers to grow our native American black elderberry, or Sambucus canadensis. We all know that supporting local business is vital for the health of our local economy here at home, but what if the American elderberry is also a better fit for making into products than the European counterpart that is imported? Well, let us dive into some of the research that we have available to us!

For starters, elderberry has been shown to be a rich source of antioxidants, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and many other minerals. Elderberry is also one of the richest sources of bioflavonoids called anthocyanins, which are the nutrients that give elderberry its dark purple/black color. Studies have shown that anthocyanins may help with a variety of health issues, from relieving oxidative stress, combatting cancer, fighting inflammation, balancing blood sugar levels, and supporting a healthy immune response. Anthocyanins are one of the major components of why elderberry is so healthy for you, and elderberry is one of the richest sources of anthocyanins.

Here’s where things get interesting in looking at the anthocyanins found in the Sambucus nigra (European) varieties compared to the Sambucus canadensis (American) varieties:

This study found additional anthocyanins in the American elderberry that weren’t detectable in the European elderberry. But most importantly, it found that the anthocyanins in the American varieties are acylated. Acylated anthocyanins are important when looking for elderberry products that are bottled/shelf-stable, because this means that they are stable during the manufacturing process and don’t break down easily. The anthocyanins in the European elderberry are known to break down when heated or stored over periods of time and will lose its purple pigment.

So it may be that supporting local is better in more ways than one when it comes to sourcing elderberry for you and your family! Be sure to look at a product’s label, and 9.9x/10 we can guarantee the elderberry in the product is not being grown here in the USA. You can trust any of the Elder Farms products are always 100% American-Grown elderberry grown by farmers here at home.