Meet the Farmer

Terry Durham has been farming organically in the Missouri River hills between Ashland and Hartsburg since 1978, starting with 3.5 acres of vegetables. A founding member of the Missouri Organic Growers Association, Terry expanded his knowledge and influence within the local farming community. Around the turn of the century, he shifted his focus to elderberries, launching what is now known as River Hills Harvest, where elderberries have become the core of his production and advocacy efforts.

River Hills Harvest specializes in 100% not-from-concentrate elderberry juice, made exclusively from American elderberries (Sambucus canadensis) sourced directly from farmers across Missouri, including their own fields. To meet the unique challenges of processing American elderberries, the farm developed specialized destemmers and wash colanders after discovering that grape destemmers weren't suitable for the delicate berries.  They’ve even developed a motorized destemmer capable of processing over 400 pounds of elderberries per hour.  These innovations have greatly improved efficiency for farmers, allowing for easier handling of large harvests without compromising the quality of the fruit.

Terry is a passionate advocate for American elderberries, emphasizing their advantages over their European counterparts. He notes that, unlike European elderberries, American elderberries don’t need to be overheated to remove cyanide, making them safer and easier to process. He’s on a mission to encourage more farmers to grow American elderberries and more makers to use them in products.

Through their website, River Hills Harvest offers many free learning resources, as well as classes, starter plants, and equipment for those interested in growing and processing American elderberries. Terry’s vision extends beyond his own farm—he’s determined to see American elderberries take root across the country, supporting both farmers and healthy lifestyles.