Of all fruits, only three - the blueberry, the Concord grape and the cranberry can trace their roots to North American soil. And of those, none is as versatile as the cranberry.
The cranberry helped sustain Americans for hundreds of years. Native Americans used cranberries in a variety of foods, the most popular was pemmican - a high protein combination of crushed cranberries, dried deer meat and melted fat - they also used it as a medicine to treat arrow wounds and as a dye for rugs and blankets.
Cultivation of the cranberry began around 1810, shortly after Captain Henry Hall, of Dennis, Massachusetts, noticed that the wild cranberries in his bogs grew better when sand blew over them. Captain Hall began transplanting his cranberry vines, fencing them in, and spreading sand on them himself.
When others heard of Hall's technique, it was quickly copied. And through the 19th century, the number of growers increased steadily.
Cranberries are a unique fruit. They can only grow and survive under a very special combination of factors: they require an acid peat soil, an adequate fresh water supply, sand and a growing season that stretches from April to November.
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water.
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. Instead, they grow on vines in impermeable beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. These beds, commonly known as "bogs," were originally made by glacial deposits.
Normally, growers do not have to replant since an undamaged cranberry vine will survive indefinitely. Some vines on Cape Cod are more than 150 years old.
In addition to Massachusetts, the major growing areas for cranberries are New Jersey, Wisconsin, British Columbia, Quebec, Washington State and 0regon. Altogether the entire cranberry industry is supported by just 29,500 acres, of which 13,100 are in Massachusetts.
Major Events in the
History of Cranberry Production
1550 - Native Americans use cranberries for food, dyes and medicine.
1620 - Pilgrims learn to use cranberries from the Native Americans.
1683 - Cranberry juice made by settlers.
1816 - Captain Henry Hall first cultivated cranberries in Dennis, MA.
1820's - Cranberries shipped to Europe for sale
1838 - First record of ice sanding on bogs and Flooding first used to control insects and prevent frost damage.
1843 - Eli Howes cultivated Howes variety of cranberries in East Dennis, MA.
1845 - "An Act for the Protection of Cranberries on Gay Head" put forth by Gay Head Indians on Martha's Vineyard.
1847 - Cyrus Cahoon cultivated Early Black variety cranberries, in Harwich, MA.
1850’s - First cranberry scoops used for harvest and Water harvesting tried, but abandoned. Seamen used cranberries to prevent scurvy at sea.
1854 - First census of cranberry acreage - 197 acres in Barnstable County, MA.
1856 - The Cranberry and Its Culture published by Benjamin Eastwood.
1863 - U. S. Department of Agriculture created Massachusetts Agricultural College (University of Massachusetts) founded. Abraham Lincoln proclaims first national Thanksgiving.
1868 - Standard 100 lb. Barrel of cranberries sold for fifty-eight cents in Philadelphia, PA.
1871 - American Cranberry Growers' Ass'n. formed in New Jersey.
1870's - Six quart pail used as standard picking measure.
1887 - Snap scoop invented for younger vines by Daniel Lumbert.
1888 - Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Ass'n. formed in Massachusetts.
1906 - Henry J. Franklin - Began formal agricultural research on cranberries.
1907 - First market cooperative - New England Cranberry Sales Company founded.
1910 - Cranberry Experiment Station research facility established in Wareham, MA. Dr. Henry J. Franklin named first director of Cranberry Experiment Station.More efficient rocker scoop used.
1912 - Hayden cranberry separator patented. First cranberry sauce marketed, Hanson.
1920 - Oscar Terbo invented first mechanical ride-on dry harvester known as Mathewson. Telephone frost warning system started.
1923 - Bailey Separator patented to grade and separate cranberries by bouncing the berries.
1930 - Ocean Spray formed as a grower owned marketing cooperative.
1930's - Women allowed to use scoops.
1947 - Walk behind mechanical dry harvesters replaced hand scooping.
1953 - First million barrel National crop.
1959 - Cranberry scare causes industry market crash.
1960's - First successful water harvesting (above), Sprinkler systems installed on most bogs Cranberry products diversify and market expands.
1970's - Integrated Pest Management program used.
1983 - Formal IPM programs developed.
1980's - International market developed for cranberries and cranberry products become ingredients in other products.
[This message has been edited by Caerr (edited 08-20-2000).]
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