West Point could well be just another sleepy little corner of Iowa, tucked away among the rolling hills and quiet fields of America’s heartland. But within the peaceful confines of this rural community lies KJM Berries and Nut Farm, a testament to determination, grit and the stubborn faith that one can plant a dream and, through sweat and toil, watch it grow.

The farm is not so much a business as it is a family story, a tale that began with a handful of berry bushes that blossomed into a full-fledged operation which now spreads across a patch of fertile land with rows upon rows of Aronia berries.

Just as with any great American enterprise, the story of KJM is one of perseverance, ingenuity and family.

This story begins more than a decade ago, when Kenneth and Judy Sanders realized they needed a new challenge. Retirement, it seemed, was going to be too dull for the likes of them. So in a stroke of genius (along with a respectable amount of wild abandon), they planted their first 1,270 Aronia berry bushes on May 18, 2011.

The Aronia berry (for those unacquainted with this humble fruit) is no small matter. It is a berry with an appetite for trouble, thriving in harsh conditions and known for its antioxidant properties. It’s a berry that seems to say “If I can survive this weather, I can survive anything.” And so, with their first planting, Kenneth and Judy had chosen a crop that would become the backbone of their farm.

As the years passed, the farm expanded. In 2012, they planted another 5,000 bushes, bringing their total to 7,200. This is a proper field planting, with rows stretching as far as the eye can see – some are 500 feet long, others are 700 feet long. The Aronia berries had taken root in the West Point soil like a pioneer staking their claim on the frontier.

But, just as sailors fear the caprice of the sea, farmers must always be wary of weather. So it was that the Sanders family faced a challenge that would test their mettle: the infamous Iowa droughts of 2012 and 2013. It’s said that in the Hawkeye State, you can’t count on the rain. If you want to grow something, you must be prepared to bring the water with you.

After two years of parched earth and wilting plants, Kenneth and Judy did what any determined farmer would: they dug deeper. They put in an irrigation system, enlarged their pond to hold more water and drilled a well to make sure that those Aronia bushes – stubborn and hardy though they might be – would thrive.

“Water is really important for the Aronia berry bushes,” Judy explained, recalling the hard years when the land seemed to fight back against them. But, like all great pioneers, they didn’t back down. They adapted. They built. They pressed forward.

Of course, growing the berries wasn’t the end of the story. The real test came when the berries ripened. And ripen they did – but picking them by hand was a different matter altogether. By the time the farm had harvested 3,000 lbs. of berries one year, the Sanders family was ready to throw in the towel. “Never again,” they said.

The sour Aronia berries can be eaten fresh off the bush, but are more frequently processed. They can be used to make wine, jam, syrup, juice, soft spreads, tea, salsa, extracts, beer, ice cream, gummies and tinctures. Photo courtesy of KJM Berries & Nut Farm

Enter the hero of the hour: an Aronia berry harvester from Poland. This marvelous contraption, which could harvest a half-row at a time, was a godsend, even if it required driving at a snail’s pace (0.5 mph, to be precise). Gone were the days of back-breaking, hand-to-berry combat. Now, the harvester did the heavy lifting and the family could focus on what mattered – turning their harvest into something people wanted.

But what, exactly, do people want from Aronia berries? There’s a lot to be said for the berries’ versatility. In the beginning, the Sanders family sold them fresh at farmers markets and to local grocery stores. But as the demand grew, so too did their vision. Three years ago, they began pressing the berries into juice and the response was so positive that they decided to take it a step further.

In the past year, a partnership was formed with a friend and Linn Grove Aronia was born. Through this venture, the Sanderses began producing and selling Aronia berry juice and powder, called Arozen, to customers and grocery stores in the region. Their reach expanded even farther, with customers as far away as 80 miles lining up for their products.

But the story doesn’t end there. The Sanders family has their sights set on the future and that future is digital. They’re working on selling their Aronia berry products online so that more people, from all across the country, can experience the health benefits of Aronia.

And if that weren’t enough, they’re always on the lookout for new ways to improve the farm, expand the business and share their bounty with the world.

Like all farms, the rhythm of the year dictates life at KJM. The season starts, for most practical purposes, around the first of April, when the family starts tending to the berry bushes, pulling weeds and making sure that everything is ready for the bloom. And bloom it does, usually around Mother’s Day.

The sight of the Aronia bushes in full flower is, as Judy puts it, “a beautiful field when it’s in bloom.” The berry harvest, however, comes much later, typically around Aug. 20. It’s a busy time and the work is non-stop, but for the Sanders family, it’s a labor of love.

In the end, when the last berry has been harvested and the last bottle of juice is pressed, there’s a feeling of accomplishment that only a grower can truly understand.

As for what lies ahead, the Sanders family has already proven that they have what it takes to turn a modest dream into a thriving farm. They’ve weathered droughts, faced down challenges and expanded their business beyond their wildest imaginings. Now, with Linn Grove Aronia on the rise and the promise of online sales just over the horizon, it seems the future is as bright as the berries on the vine.

For now, though, they’re content. They continue to invite others to see the farm, learn about Aronia berries and celebrate the fruits of their labor. After all, in the world of agriculture, as in life, it’s not just about what you grow – it’s about how you grow it and who you grow it with. At KJM, family, hard work and the American spirit of perseverance are at the heart of it all.

The next time you find yourself in West Point, Iowa, and you’re hankering for something a bit more extraordinary than your average berry, head on over to KJM. They’ve got a story to tell and berries to sell.

For more information visit facebook.com/kjmberryandnutfarm and linngrovearonia.com.

by Enrico Villamaino