Value-Added Production of Sorrel Juice from Red Sorrel Plant

Engaging in alternative enterprises is one of the options that small farms could use to enhance farm income. In addition to enhancing farm income, alternative enterprises help to diversify farm operations and reduce the risk associated with farm income. Another option to enhance farm income is to engage in value-added activities. This project proposes to grow red sorrel (sorrel) as an alternative enterprise and produce and market sorrel juice from its calyces as a value-added activity. The goal of this project is to explore the feasibility of producing and marketing sorrel juice as a value-added farm enterprise. The objectives of this project are to: i) assess the productivity of sorrel plant in order ascertain the yield in terms of calyces, and foliage per acre; ii) produce and test-market sorrel juice; iii) explore marketing outlets and undertake price discovery for sorrel juice; iv) explore markets for other products (other than the calyx) derived from the sorrel plant; and v) conduct field demonstrations for other area farmers who may be interested in producing sorrel plant and act as an information source for them.An acre of land will be used to grow sorrel plant. Half of the land will be devoted to the production of sorrel for its petals (calyces) and the other half will be devoted to the production of sorrel for its leaves and flowers. Some of the calyces will be harvested and used to produce sorrel juice at an FDA-approved food processing facility (Bobbees Bottling Company). Leftover calyces will be used to produce, and bag, sorrel tea. The sorrel juice and tea will be test-marketed at area retail grocery stores, especially those that sell ethnic food products. Sorrel leaves will also be marketed as a green leafy vegetable through the retail grocery stores. Local flower stores will be requested to include sorrel flower in floral arrangements. Demonstrations of the production of sorrel will be held for area farmers to showcase sorrel as a potential alternative farm enterprise.It is anticipated that sorrel juice will be accepted by consumers as a healthy and potential substitute for vegetable/fruit. Once the market for sorrel juice grows, farmers could produce sorrel as an alternative enterprise to enhance their income and diversify their operations. The production of sorrel juice from the plant and the bottling will increase rural economic activity and income.