The cranberry bogs are flooded when the berries ripen. Then the berries are beaten mechanically from the vines. Cranberries float to the surface, where they are skimmed, collected on trucks, and taken for processing. It takes three to five years for a cranberry bed to begin producing commercially.
Why do they put cranberries in a 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.
Do you need a bog to grow cranberries?
Cranberries are well suited to grow in wet marshy areas called bogs. It’s uniquely able to thrive in colder temperatures.
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 do cranberries need to be flooded?
Flooding is so important in cranberry cultivation that bogs where flooding is not possible are no longer considered profitable. Cranberry growers use flooding as a management tool to protect the plants from the cold, drying winds of winter, to harvest and remove fallen leaves and to control pests.
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.
What state has the most cranberry bogs?
Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts
The United States is the world’s leading cranberry producer, followed by Canada and Chile. U.S. farmers harvested 40,800 acres of cranberries last year, yielding a total of nearly 8.7 million barrels according to the Cranberry Marketing Committee.
Are there fish in cranberry bogs?
Can you fish in Cranberry Bog? Cranberry Bog is near Wappinger. The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed.
What animals live in cranberry bogs?
There are many animals that can also be found on the bog as well including the red deer, occasionally black bear, damselflies, grouse, small rodents like the house mouse, and many more. Theses animals can sometimes eat the cranberry, especially black bear, rodents, birds, and deer.
When should I go to a cranberry bog?
Fall
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.
What chemicals are used on cranberry bogs?
Cranberries are a finicky crop, and Ocean Spray uses all kinds of chemicals to keep their production rates high. They do not use aminotriazole anymore, but they do use a whole host of other chemicals to keep their bogs contained, such as chlorothalonil, carbaryl, and pronamide.
How does cranberry farming work?
The cranberry bogs are flooded when the berries ripen. Then the berries are beaten mechanically from the vines. Cranberries float to the surface, where they are skimmed, collected on trucks, and taken for processing. It takes three to five years for a cranberry bed to begin producing commercially.
Are cranberry bogs wetlands?
The cranberry is a native wetland plant. Cranberry wetland systems are made up of producing bogs, ditches, dikes, reservoirs, ponds and uplands, preserving over 60,000 acres of open space in the Commonwealth.
Do cranberry bogs have spiders?
Actually, they’ve been there all along. While the berries are growing, budding, and flowering, the spiders make home in the vines, cleaning the vines of any insects. When the bogs are flooded, the spiders float to the surface and run across the tops of the berries to stay dry.
Where do cranberries grow best?
Where Do Cranberries 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.
Why are cranberries so sour?
However, because of their notoriously bitter, sharp taste, most people prefer not to eat them raw or unsweetened. This bitterness is due to the high tannin content of cranberries. Tannins are a plant compound also found in high amounts in coffee, wine, and dark chocolate ( 2 , 4 ).
How high does a cranberry bounce?
Before being harvested and sold, an individual cranberry must be able to bounce at least four inches high to make sure it is not too ripe.
Can you visit Ocean Spray?
Ocean Spray owner-growers Jeff and Kim LaFleur open their 23.6-acre bog in Plympton, MA, to visitors from around the world for hands-on cranberry harvest programs. Hop on a viewing tour or sign up for the “Be The Grower Experience,” where you can slip on waders and help out with the harvest yourself.
What do cranberries taste like?
Cranberries are bitter-tasting berries that are full of powerful phytochemicals that protect your body from illness. These berries are traditionally sweetened and cooked or sweetened and dried to reduce some of their tartness.
How much do cranberry farmers get paid?
Ocean Spray Cranberries pays an average salary of $49,733 per year, which is $23.91 an hour. There is a significant gap between what Ocean Spray Cranberries pays the bottom 10 percent of earners and the top 10 percent of earners.
How much is a ton of cranberries worth?
The average price for a tonne is US$ 3313.86 in New York and Washington. US’ import price for cranberries in 2019 was US$4.08 per kilo.