Cranberry bogs are an important part of the landscape here in the Buzzards Bay region. They maintain thousands of acres of wetlands, which help protect the Bay. They also provide important wildlife habitat for ducks, turtles, otters, turkeys, and more.
What is the purpose of a cranberry bog?
Cranberries have pockets of air inside the fruit. Because of this, cranberries float in water, and thus, the bogs can be flooded to aid in removal of fruit from the vines.
Are cranberry bogs good for the environment?
Like these sources, cranberry bogs also release nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment. Concerns are also often raised regarding pesticide and other contaminants released into the environment, as well as water withdrawals from ponds and groundwater.
Why are cranberries important to Massachusetts?
Today, Massachusetts is the second most productive cranberry state in the United States after Wisconsin, growing over 100,000 tons of the fruit each year—the most significant agricultural product produced in the state, with the crop worth about $100 million annually.
What is the cranberry capital of the world?
Bandon, The Cranberry Capital of the World. It may surprise some to learn that Bandon, with its temperateclimate and crashing surf, is an ideal place for growing cranberries, and it has grown to a center of production since the berries were first commercially grown here in the 1890s.
Why do farmers put cranberries in water?
The old rule-of-thumb states that cranberry vines need approximately an inch of water a week to grow. Growers use water to protect cranberries from frost and hot weather in summer.
Why do they flood cranberry bogs?
When the plants go dormant for winter, flooding protects the vines from winter freeze. Flooding the bog helps also with the harvest. A typical cranberry harvest begins in early September and lasts through fall. The cranberry bogs are flooded when the berries ripen.
Do cranberry bogs smell?
The fall sun warmed our shoulders. Atlantic breezes carried the salty pungent scent of the cranberry bogs, and maybe pine, making swirling whirlpools in the tall grass. Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America – the other two are blueberries and Concord grapes.
Do they drain cranberry bogs?
At harvest time, farmers flood their bogs with water from those ponds to facilitate easy collection of the buoyant berries. Any excess phosphorus drains with the water out of the bogs after harvest.
What states have cranberry bogs?
Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts
Just five states grow almost all of the country’s supply of the tart berries: Wisconsin produces more than half of all cranberries in the United States, Massachusetts harvests another third, and New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington produce much of the rest.
Who invented cranberry bogs?
Cultivation of the cranberry began in 1816, shortly after Captain Henry Hall, a Revolutionary War veteran, of Dennis, Massachusetts, noticed that the wild cranberries in his bogs grew better when sand blew over them. Captain Hall began transplanting cranberry vines and spreading sand on them.
What is the benefits of cranberry?
Many people consider cranberries to be a superfood due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content. In fact, research has linked the nutrients in cranberries to a lower risk of urinary tract infection (UTI), the prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.
What fruit is each state known for?
Here is every state’s favorite fruit:
- Alabama: Blueberry.
- Alaska: Avocado.
- Arizona: Cantaloupe.
- Arkansas: Tomato.
- California: Eggplant.
- Colorado: Strawberry.
- Connecticut: Pitaya.
- Delaware: Pineapple.
Which state has the most cranberry bogs?
Wisconsin is the nation’s leading producer of cranberries, harvesting more than 60 percent of the country’s crop. The little red berry, Wisconsin’s official state fruit, is the state’s number one fruit crop, both in size and economic value.
What state is the largest cranberry producer?
Wisconsin was the top cranberry producer in the United States in 2021, at about 4.17 million barrels, followed by Massachusetts with 1.8 million barrels of cranberries in that year.
Total cranberry production in the United States in 2021, by state (in 1,000 barrels)*
| Characteristic | Production in thousand barrels |
|---|---|
| – | – |
| – | – |
Who produces the most cranberries in the world?
United States of America is the largest cranberry producer in the world with 359,110 tonnes production per year. United States of America produces alone more than 50 % of world’s cranberry. Canada comes second with 172,440 tonnes yearly production.
Can dogs eat raw cranberries?
Both cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many cranberries can lead to an upset stomach.
Can cranberries be eaten raw?
Cranberries are more than just the makings of a sweet sauce. You can add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them whole. Eating raw cranberries is safe and easy, though their sharp, bitter flavor isn’t for everyone. Be sure to clean and sort them thoroughly.
Why are cranberries so sour?
The cranberries developed an acidity level five times higher than blueberries because it came to rely on water for seed dispersal. Cranberries did not need to produce large amounts of sugar that their blue-colored relatives required to entice consumption by animals in order to spread their seeds.
When should I go to a cranberry bog?
Cranberry bogs have a surprisingly long growing season, from April to November, and benefit from the freezing of the ground for a brief dormant period. Fall is the best time to come observe the berries in all their ripened glory.
Where do cranberry bogs grow?
A cranberry bog needs to have acidic peaty soil for fruitful berries. These bogs are found from Massachusetts to New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Quebec, Chile, and primarily in the Pacific Northwest region which includes Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.