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+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 1,500 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 10 years
- Years to full prod.
- 4
- Labor
- 250 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
No buyer on record for this crop in the catalog's buyer network.
Price Trend Stable/Up
3-year price trend recorded as "stable".
Supply Below Demand
2 of 5 documented channels rate viability "strong". Sold into regional rather than national markets, fruit supply here generally trails that demand.
Multiple Buyer Channels
5 of 5 documented market channels rate viable or better (direct_to_consumer, farmers_market, wholesale, restaurant). Multiple independent routes to market.
Value-Added Potential
3 viable direct-market channels (direct_to_consumer, farmers_market, restaurant). Supports value-added and margin capture beyond wholesale.
Market Growth Projected
Specialty fruit segment; consumer demand for regionally grown specialty produce has been expanding.
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Crop tolerates zones 3-8; region spans 5-6. Overlaps.
GDD Sufficient
Crop needs 160 GDD (base 50F); region accumulates 2500+. Sufficient.
Precipitation Compatible
Crop water requirement not recorded. Region is humid continental with reliable growing-season rainfall; irrigation available as supplement.
Frost-Free Season OK
Crop needs 120 frost-free days; region provides ~180. Sufficient.
Chill Hours Met
Perennial. Region's zone 5-6 winters deliver well over 1,000 chill hours, ample for temperate perennials.
Climate Trend Favorable
Crop spans 6 hardiness zones (3-8). Wide adaptive range buffers against warming trend.
Fit by region
The farm matcher, run on each region's cited climate normals. Soil and site are not included here; add your own on the match page.
Limited by high-severity risks. 6 criteria evaluated, 2 not yet researched; 100% cited.
Limited by high-severity risks. 6 criteria evaluated, 2 not yet researched; 100% cited.
Limited by rainfall, high-severity risks. 6 criteria evaluated, 2 not yet researched; 100% cited.
Climate envelope & site
What the farm matcher compares your conditions against.
Climate envelope
- Hardiness zone
- 3–8
- Frost-free season
- 120+ days
- Heat (GDD base 50°F)
- not yet recorded
- Winter chill
- 800–1,600 hours
- Rainfall
- 27.6–43.3 in/yr
Below the minimum, irrigation is needed; above the maximum the crop fails.
- Soil pH target
- 5.5–7.0
Extension lime target; within 1.0 of it is correctable.
Site & structure
- Spring frost at bloom
- high sensitivity
- Needs cold-air drainage
- yes — avoid frost pockets
- Shade tolerance
- partial
- Mature height
- not yet recorded
- Rooting depth
- not yet recorded
- Wind exposure tolerance
- not yet recorded
- Workable slope
- not yet recorded
Height, rooting depth and shade tolerance are the inputs an alley or guild layout needs.
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
1 of 12 documented equipment items are crop-specific (8%) against a catalog median of 29%. Most needs are met by general row-crop or orchard equipment.
Storage Available
3 documented storage routes; at least one (Fresh cold storage (clamshells)) is reachable with conventional on-farm or third-party facilities.
Irrigation Compatible
Water requirement not recorded; standard drip or overhead irrigation assumed adequate.
Field Layout Suitable
Suited to the small-to-mid-size fragmented parcels typical of the region.
Labor Availability
Labor requirement not recorded. Catalog 75th percentile is 250 hr/ac.
Processing Proximity
No processing or cooperative buyer on record for this crop; product would need to travel or be sold fresh.
Equipment Requirements
planting
Loosen and amend planting rows with organic matter before setting bushes.
Dormant bushes are set by hand or with a small transplanter at establishment.
cultivation
Maintains a weed-free strip along the bush row during establishment.
Organic mulch conserves moisture and suppresses weeds in the row.
irrigation
Ribes are shallow-rooted and benefit from consistent moisture via drip.
spraying
Applies fungicides for mildew/leaf spot and controls for borer, sawfly, and SWD.
harvesting
Fresh-market currants are hand-picked as strigs into shallow lugs.
Processing plantings may use a straddle harvester that shakes fruit from bushes.
post_harvest
Soft berries are cooled rapidly and held cold to slow SWD and softening.
Removes leaves and debris before packing or processing.
general
Power unit for tillage, mowing, spraying, and transport.
Annual dormant pruning by cane age is essential for yield and borer management.
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
Financial Return
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue $14,000/ac vs catalog median $6,000/ac. Above median.
Input Costs Acceptable
Total input cost $10,000/ac vs catalog 75th percentile $6,300/ac. Above the top quartile.
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 3 years. Acceptable payback.
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance recorded for this crop; risk sits with the grower.
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Cannot compute — labor hours not recorded. Catalog median is $13.16/hr.
Grants/Subsidies
Fruit crops are eligible under the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
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 Profile
Manageable Pest/Disease
4 of 11 documented risks are high-severity (36%) against a catalog median of 36%. Risk load is manageable by conventional IPM.
Market Diversified
5 viable market channels of 5 documented. Not dependent on a single outlet.
Low Establishment Risk
3 years to full production at $6,000/ac establishment cost. Multi-year capital commitment before first full return.
Climate Resilient
Tolerates zones 3-8 (6 zones). Broad tolerance indicates resilience to seasonal variability.
Regulatory Burden Low
No crop-specific licensing or reporting regime beyond standard food-safety and pesticide rules.
Diversifies Portfolio
Adds a fruit revenue stream distinct from the region's grape-dominated base.
Known Risks
disease
Mildew coats leaves and fruit, stunting shoots and downgrading berries, particularly on susceptible types and dense plantings.
Leaf-spot fungi cause premature defoliation in wet seasons, weakening plants and reducing yield.
Cane diseases cause wilting and death of individual canes across the season.
The rust cycles between currants and white pines; heavy infection defoliates currants and threatens nearby pines.
pest
Clearwing moth larvae tunnel inside canes and kill them the following season, a leading cause of cane loss.
Sawfly larvae can rapidly defoliate bushes starting at the base, especially early in the season.
This invasive fruit fly lays eggs in ripening soft fruit, causing larval infestation and rapid softening at harvest.
Aphids cause reddish leaf blistering and cupping on new growth in spring.
weather
Currants bloom early and open flowers are vulnerable to late frosts that reduce fruit set.
market
U.S. currant demand is a niche concentrated in processing, juice, and specialty fresh markets, limiting large-scale outlets.
regulatory
Ribes are the alternate host for white pine blister rust; some states and localities restrict or prohibit planting, especially of black currant, and rust-immune cultivars may be required.
Nutritional Yield
Macronutrients
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 63 kcal | 398,638 kcal |
| Protein | 1.4 g | 8,859 g |
| Total fat | 0.4 g | 2,594 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15.4 g | 97,318 g |
Key micronutrients
Uncertainty: Per-acre values are estimates that compound the yield range, edible-fraction assumption, and a single representative nutrient panel. Treat them as order-of-magnitude planning numbers, not nutritional advice. Confidence: high.
Ecosystem Services
Pollinator support
- Early-season floral resourcesmoderate
Currants bloom early and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators when few other resources are available.
Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium
Erosion control
- Perennial ground covermoderate
As a perennial planting, currant rows and inter-row cover reduce soil erosion versus annual tillage.
Applies when: With maintained inter-row coverEvidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium
Biodiversity
- Hedgerow and margin habitatmoderate
Currant bushes and adjacent margins add structural habitat supporting birds and beneficial insects.
Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium
Cultural / aesthetic
- Heritage and value-added specialty fruitmoderate
A heritage small fruit supporting local food identity and value-added products (juice, jam, cassis).
Evidence: Industry consensus·Confidence: medium
Carbon sequestration
- Perennial shrub biomasslow
Long-lived shrubs and root systems store carbon over the planting life.
Evidence: Modeled estimate·Confidence: low
Cultivars
Named varieties and what the sources say sets each apart. A cultivar-specific zone, chill or maturity figure overrides the species value above.
Grows With / Avoid Near
Documented interactions with other catalog crops — shared pests, allelopathy, rotation effects, alley and understory pairings — for companion, guild and rotation planning. Plan a combination with Currant (Black and Red) →
Avoid near, or plan around (2)
Grows with (1)
Direction matters: a rotation benefit of A before B says nothing about B before A. Interactions are documented pairs only; absence is a research gap, not a clean bill.
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 · Basis: lake erie View economics source →
100 tracked changes across 10 data categories