Currant (Black and Red)
Ribes nigrum (black), Ribes rubrum (red)
Black (Ribes nigrum) and red (Ribes rubrum) currants are hardy perennial shrubs suitable for Zones 3-8, producing tart berries for jams and juices. Black varieties yield higher; rust-resistant cultivars are recommended where Ribes restrictions apply (historic white pine blister rust regulations still vary by jurisdiction). Prefer moist, well-drained acidic soils and cool growing conditions.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- Early fall or early spring – Early fall or early spring
- Harvest
- June (2 weeks) – June (2 weeks)
- Frost-free days
- 120+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 160
Yield
- Typical yield
- 1,500 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 10 years
- Years to full prod.
- 3
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Emerging crop with growing buyer network
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (3.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (160)
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (120 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (800+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Specialized or limited storage; perishable product needs immediate handling
Irrigation Compatible
Low water needs or rain-fed viable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Storage Requirements
Fresh cold storage (clamshells)
Temperature
32–39°F
Humidity
85–90%
Max Storage
15 days
Frozen (IQF)
Temperature
-10–0°F
Max Storage
365 days
Processed (juice, jam, syrup)
Temperature
35–70°F
Max Storage
365 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($14,000/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Input costs are low to moderate
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 3 years; acceptable payback
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance; NAP may be available for some disaster scenarios
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Labor-intensive; revenue per labor hour may be modest
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $9/per lb wholesale |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $14,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $4,000/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $6,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | $10,000/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $4,000 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Moderate pest/disease pressure; manageable with available methods
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Low establishment risk; quick to establish or low upfront investment
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Currant (Black and Red) against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
46 tracked changes across 7 data categories