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2026 AMERICAN ELDERERRY CONFERENCE

2026 AMERICAN ELDERERRY CONFERENCE

2026 AMERICAN ELDERERRY CONFERENCE

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June 17-19th in Mt. Vernon, M

The American Elderberry Conference is a yearly event that takes place in the heart of the American elderberry farming world, right here in the Midwest! This conference brings together scientists working on the latest American elderberry research in health and lifestyle. It brings in farmers who travel in from across the globe to learn the latest techniques to increase production and build sustainably.  Included also are makers and innovators, who use American elderberries in various products available on the market.  The American Elderberry Conference provides valuable insight into the elderberry industry and helps connect American farmers with businesses.

June 17-19, 2026

2026 American Elderberry Conference

Building a Sustainable Future in Health, Agroforestry & Industry​​

Schedule:

Schedule:

Wednesday and Thursday we will be at The University of Missouri’s Southwest Research Extension and Education Center. Enjoy two days packed with information, lunch, snacks and vendors at the facility and we will tour their elderberry planting on Thursday. Presentations, presenters and schedule will be shared with ticket holders once finalized. Thursday evening, relax and network at the reception (more information coming soon). Friday, we will have a number of local elderberry farms available for you to tour.

The American Elderberry Conference is a yearly event that takes place in the heart of the American elderberry farming world, right here in the Midwest! This conference brings together scientists working on the latest American elderberry research in health and lifestyle. It brings in farmers who travel in from across the globe to learn the latest techniques to increase production and build sustainably.  Included also are makers and innovators, who use American elderberries in various products available on the market.  The American Elderberry Conference provides valuable insight into the elderberry industry and helps connect American farmers with businesses.

Each year the demand for elderberry products grow here in the USA. Elderberry researchers, farmers and product makers are on the forefront of this industry. Working together to unite and continue to build this marketable crop.  The yearly American Elderberry Conference digs deep into farming techniques and helps guide farmers to get the best yield for their acreage. This conference educates product makers building or using a processing facility, as well as creating value added products. It also brings in the latest research in areas such as American elderberry for brain health, diet and more. The conference focuses on the industry as a whole and how to build that: whether it be through product innovations, commercial farming techniques, community, marketing and more…

https://www.riverhillsharvest.com/2026-elderberry-conference

To register for this event please visit the following URL: https://www.riverhillsharvest.com/2026-elderberry-conference →

 

Date And Time

06-17-2026 to
06-19-2026
 

Location

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Fortifying the Heartland: My Christmas Wish for Hy-Vee.

Lionberry 's Weekly Delusion and Re-illusion Update.

This week’s delusion is pretending our grocery stores don’t have a weak point.

This week’s re-illusion is remembering that strength comes from building on what already works, not acting like we’re starting from scratch.

Hy-Vee does a really good job bringing in local barbecue sauces, jams, honey, and other value-added foods from the Heartland.

We’re not starting from zero.

But we are starting from small.

So I handed Santa a LionBerry and gave him my Christmas list:

A fortified Hy-Vee — one that expands the Heartland section that already exists into a full, accessible, stocked-every-day aisle for local foods.

Not to replace the global or national imports like Florida oranges, California almonds, Mexico avocados, pineapple juice from Thailand, or coastal produce —

but to stand beside them, so the region isn’t left vulnerable the next time anything shakes the system:

  • fuel shortages
  • war
  • trucking strikes
  • geopolitics
  • water shortages
  • drought or dust-bowl conditions
  • port disruptions
  • cyber hits
  • natural disasters

Any one of these can break a supply chain.

A fortified regional shelf — built from the farms around Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska — keeps us fed.

The World Cup is coming to Kansas City.

Soccer tourists from Germany, Brazil, Japan, everywhere — living in Airbnbs for three to six weeks, shopping at Hy-Vee for everything from breakfast to body soap.

If we went to Germany, we’d want Wienerschnitzel.

If we went to Brazil, we’d want feijoada.

If we went to Japan, we’d want ramen or sushi that actually tastes like Japan.

So when they come to the Heartland, they don’t want a New York hot dog or a California cheeseburger.

They want us — the real Midwest.

What do we grow and make here?

  • local barbecue sauces
  • local fruit like blueberries
  • corn tortillas, tomato sauces, and beans
  • wheat pastas and breads
  • value-added soaps made from beef tallow
  • local meat, dairy, and eggs
  • elderberry drinks

And soccer tourists staying in AirBnB’s need actual essentials:

  • dish soap
  • cleaning agents
  • body soap and hygiene products
  • breakfast foods
  • snacks
  • drinks
  • basics
  • dinners

This is exactly why a stronger Heartland aisle matters — not just for crisis, but for culture, tourism, and everyday life.

This week’s delusion is pretending our grocery stores don’t have a weak point.
This week’s re-illusion is remembering that strength comes from building on what already works, not acting like we’re starting from scratch.

Hy-Vee does a really good job bringing in local barbecue sauces, jams, honey, and other value-added foods from the Heartland.
We’re not starting from zero.
But we are starting from small.

So I handed Santa a LionBerry and gave him my Christmas list:

A fortified Hy-Vee — one that expands the Heartland section that already exists into a full, accessible, stocked-every-day aisle for local foods.

Not to replace the global or national imports like Florida oranges, California almonds, Mexico avocados, pineapple juice from Thailand, or coastal produce —
but to stand beside them, so the region isn’t left vulnerable the next time anything shakes the system:

  • fuel shortages
  • war
  • trucking strikes
  • geopolitics
  • water shortages
  • drought or dust-bowl conditions
  • port disruptions
  • cyber hits
  • natural disasters

Any one of these can break a supply chain.
A fortified regional shelf — built from the farms around Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska — keeps us fed.

The World Cup is coming to Kansas City.
Soccer tourists from Germany, Brazil, Japan, everywhere — living in Airbnbs for three to six weeks, shopping at Hy-Vee for everything from breakfast to body soap.

If we went to Germany, we’d want Wienerschnitzel.
If we went to Brazil, we’d want feijoada.
If we went to Japan, we’d want ramen or sushi that actually tastes like Japan.

So when they come to the Heartland, they don’t want a New York hot dog or a California cheeseburger.
They want us — the real Midwest.

What do we grow and make here?

  • local barbecue sauces
  • local fruit like blueberries
  • corn tortillas, tomato sauces, and beans
  • wheat pastas and breads
  • value-added soaps made from beef tallow
  • local meat, dairy, and eggs
  • elderberry drinks

And soccer tourists staying in Airbnbs need actual essentials:

  • dish soap
  • cleaning agents
  • body soap and hygiene products
  • breakfast foods
  • snacks
  • drinks
  • basics
  • dinners

This is exactly why a stronger Heartland aisle matters — not just for crisis, but for culture, tourism, and everyday life.

A shared warehouse, a shared distributor, and a unified block of local makers would let regional foods move with the same efficiency as national brands — while staying rooted right here.

Tourists will buy it.
Locals will keep it.
And if anything ever shakes the world, a fortified Hy-Vee keeps the Heartland standing.

That’s what I told Santa.
That’s my wish this year.
And that’s exactly what LionBerry is built to help do — bottle by bottle, aisle by aisle.