Boots-to-Roots

At Veteran Berries, we believe those who have worn boots in service—whether in the military, emergency response, farming, or any other essential role—deserve the opportunity to put down new roots. That’s why we created the Boots-to-Roots Program, designed to guide servicemembers, spouses, veterans, first responders, and hardworking Americans into the growing world of American Elderberries.

Elderberries are a rapidly expanding specialty crop with increasing demand for their health and wellness benefits. Through Boots-to-Roots, we make the transition into elderberry farming achievable by offering tailored support at every step of the journey—from planning and planting to harvesting and processing.

📋Field Planning & Preparations

Ready to grow American Elderberries but unsure where to start? Our Field Planning & Preparations service is included with Custom Planting services or as a stand-alone fee-based service. We conduct an assessment of your farm and provide guidance on soil health and conditioning, optimized layouts, identify irrigation and mulching options, cultivar selection, and provide sustainable strategies to ensure your farm flourishes. 

🌱Custom Plantings

Every farm is unique, and your elderberry crops should be too. Our Custom Plantings service creates tailored planting plans to maximize yield and quality, using proven elderberry cultivars based on your farm objectives. Our custom planting service covers use of our equipment, labor, plants/cuttings, mulch, irrigation, and travel expenses. Using the field layout plan, we establish the rows (typically 4'x14' spacing), install drip tube irrigation, biodegradable weed fabric or wood-based mulch, and planting of rooted plants or cuttings. We will do Custom Plantings for a minimum of 2 acres. 

🧺Post-Harvest Consultation

You've invested a lot of time and money to grow American Elderberries and now your harvest deserves to shine. Our Post-Harvest Consultation service guides you through processing, storage, and market strategies to ensure your American-grown elderberries reach their full potential. We help you deliver nature’s time-tested remedy to customers, boosting your success and supporting U.S. farmers. 

🥾Boots-to-Roots - are you ready?

Growing American Elderberries is no small task—it’s hard work and truly labor-intensive. While engineers continue to explore mechanical harvesters, hand-harvesting remains the only way to bring in the fruit. If you enjoy rolling up your sleeves and being part of something rewarding in this growing industry, fill out the inquiry form below—we can't wait to chat!