Currants

Currants, a fruit with a long and interesting history, are attracting a lot of attention of late, providing
another example of how "what's old is new again." These small, tasty, and, in some cases, ornamental
berries grow on bushes in the genus Ribes and are native to northern Europe, Asia, and North America.
This genus contains approximately 150 species, which are classified as red and white currants, black
currants, ornamental currants, golden currants, and gooseberries. Many cultivars have been developed
over the years within individual species, making this a truly diverse plant group.

HISTORY

The term "currant" comes from the ancient Greek city of Corinth, which was famous for producing small
dried grapes known as Zante Currants. Corinthes, corans, currans, and bastarde corinthes were early
names for Ribes currants. Currant culture in farms and gardens can be traced back to the Renaissance in
Europe and the arrival of early colonists in North America in the late 1700s, though native Americans
were known to harvest them in the wild. Currants' medicinal properties are described in old herbalist
texts from the 1600s. They were used by Native Americans in medicines and dyes. Currants are
mentioned in a memorandum of the Massachusetts Company in 1629 as one of the plants destined for
the "New World Colonies”

The botanical roots of this genus go back even further, as the name Ribes derives from the Syrian
or Kurdish word ribas, which was derived from the old Persian word riba. Beginning in the
1700s, there were early selection and breeding programs.

and 1800s, as well as today, have resulted in the plethora of cultivated varieties we now know.
Furthermore, many wild species have been identified throughout their native ranges.

Blackcurrant is one of the very popular summer season berries. Indeed, they are
incredibly rich in several valuable health-benefiting phytonutrients and antioxidants that
are vital for our health.

Blackcurrant is a small shrub belonging to the family of Grossulariaceae, of the

genus; Ribes. Its scientific name: Ribes nigrum.

The Ribes shrub is a fast-growing, deciduous, small shrub reaching about 5-6 ft in
height. In general, currants grow best in the regions where summers are humid but
winters severe and chilling.

 Anthocyanins, phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals found in blackcurrants, are extremely

abundant. Currant consumption may have potential health benefits against cancer, aging,
inflammation, and neurological diseases, according to scientific studies.
 After chokeberries, elderberries, and cranberries, blackcurrants have the highest
antioxidant value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity, or ORAC) of 7,950 troloquinol
equivalents per 100 g. Red currants, on the other hand, have a lower ORAC value of
3,387 TE.
 They are high in the antioxidant vitamin C. 100 g of fresh currants contain more than
300% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C.
 According to studies, eating fruits high in vitamin C helps the human body develop
immunity against infectious agents as well as scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals
from the body.
 Black currants contain a small but significant amount of vitamin A as well as flavonoid
antioxidants like carotene, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. Fresh berries contain 230 IU of
vitamin A per 100 g. Antioxidant properties are known for these compounds.
 Vitamin A is also necessary for the integrity of the mucosa and skin, as well as for
healthy vision. Furthermore, eating natural fruits high in flavonoid antioxidants protects
against lung and oral cavity cancers.
 Fresh blackcurrants are also high in many vitamins, including pantothenic acid (vitamin
B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are necessary
in the sense that the human body requires them from outside sources to replenish and for
metabolism.
 They also contain adequate amounts of mineral iron. Currant berries provide about 20%
of the daily recommended levels in 100 g. Iron is required for cytochrome oxidase-guided
cellular metabolism and the production of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bone marrow.
 There are several ways to profit from blackcurrants:

Sell fresh blackcurrants: Fresh blackcurrants can be sold at farmers markets, local grocery stores, or
directly to customers. Organically grown or locally sourced blackcurrants can be priced higher.

Make value-added products: Blackcurrants can be used to make value-added products such as jams,
jellies, syrups, and juices. These items can be sold directly to consumers, at farmers markets, or on
online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon.

If you have a blackcurrant plantation, you can sell blackcurrant plants to other farmers or individuals
who want to start their own plantation.

Provide blackcurrant tours: If you have a large blackcurrant plantation, you can give tours to visitors who
are interested in learning more about the fruit.