Currants
Currants
Key Requirements
| Land | Low |
| Labor | High |
| Capital | High |
Take the HortBizQuiz to see how much Land, Labor, and Capital you have for your operation.
Markets
- Direct to Consumer
- Farmer's Market
- On-Farm Stands
- Restaurants
Pests & Disease
Recommended that growers generally select varieties that have white pine blister rust and powdery mildew resistance. Currants have few serious insect pests, injury from mites and aphids can occur occasionally.
$1800-1900
Cost per 1/5 Acre
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
$750-800
Returns per 1/5 Acre
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Challenges
- Limited demand in Kentucky means that it is unlikely currants to be planted on a per acre basis.
- Time lapse of three years after planting before the first harvest with full production at four years.
- Plants can be difficult to obtain and should be ordered in advance. This will be the most significant investment.
Opportunities
- Saving the berries for sale during the off-season may be a way of diversifying a growers offering and spreading the risk of production.
- Currants are easily propagated by hardwood cuttings of 1-year-old-wood.
- Can tolerate a wide range of soil types.