Andrew Thomas, a research assistant professor at the University of Missouri, has been granted a $5,345,255 Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant from the USDA to enhance the production and processing of elderberries in the United States over the next four years. Elderberry, a native plant in the Midwest and eastern United States, has seen a surge in demand due to its health benefits and is now the leading berry crop in Missouri. The project will focus on various aspects of elderberry production, including horticulture, plant breeding, food science, human health, mechanical harvest, and economics, and will involve collaboration with researchers and institutions across the country.