CRANBERRY | How Does It Grow?
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This section introduces cranberries as a native fruit in the United States and highlights their historical significance to Native Americans.
Cranberries as a Native Fruit
- Cranberries are one of the few fruits native to the United States.
- Native Americans recognized the anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries and used them as both food and medicine.
- They even applied cranberries to arrow wounds for their healing properties.
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This section discusses the health benefits of cranberries and their association with Thanksgiving traditions.
Health Benefits and Thanksgiving Tradition
- Cranberries are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, making them highly beneficial for health.
- One-fifth of America's total cranberry harvest is consumed on Thanksgiving, mostly in the form of cranberry sauce.
- Only five percent of the nation's crop is sold as whole fresh cranberries.
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This section explores how cranberries grow and debunks the misconception that they grow underwater.
Growing Cranberries
- Cranberries grow on low trailing vines in sunken beds called bogs.
- These plants are perennial, surviving year after year.
- Sandy soil is ideal for growing cranberries, which take 16 months to fully mature.
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This section focuses on a cranberry farm in southern New Jersey and its farming practices.
Southern New Jersey Farming Practices (1:16)
- Southern New Jersey, known as the Pine Barrens, provides a natural habitat for growing cranberries.
- Many families have been farming cranberries in this region since the mid-1800s, such as the Leigh brothers.
- Cranberries require careful nurturing for two seasons simultaneously, as buds for next year's crop grow while current berries ripen.
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This section delves into the specific conditions and resources required for cranberry farming.
Conditions and Resources for Cranberry Farming (1:37)
- Cranberries thrive in sandy soil and take a long time to grow, with some vines being over 65 years old.
- Water is a crucial resource for cranberry farmers, with reservoirs and watersheds covering a significant portion of the farm.
- The waiting river serves as the primary water source during the growing season.
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This section explains how flooding bogs twice a year is an essential part of cranberry farming.
Flooding Bogs (2:19)
- Twice a year, cranberry farmers flood the bogs. In December, it protects the plants from winter frost by providing insulation.
- In spring, when the bogs are drained, cranberries' pink flowers bloom.
- Commercial bees are often hired to pollinate the fields in modern farms.
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This section explores the growth stages of cranberries and their unique characteristics.
Growth Stages and Characteristics (2:56)
- Cranberries start growing in mid-June after pollination. They begin green, turn white around August, and finally become red in fall.
- Unlike other fruits like strawberries or blueberries that sweeten as they ripen, cranberries remain naturally tart throughout their growth process.
- The inside of a cranberry is white and crisp like an apple. It contains four air chambers that allow them to float on water.
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This section describes the process of harvesting cranberries.
Harvesting Cranberries (3:47)
- A harvester drives through the bogs to knock the berries off the vines.
- Farmers wade into the bog to corral the floating berries towards an elevator that collects them into a truck.
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This section highlights the significance of Ocean Spray Cooperative and various cranberry products.
Ocean Spray Cooperative and Cranberry Products (4:11)
- The majority of cranberry farmers in New Jersey belong to the Ocean Spray Cooperative, which produces over 60% of the world's cranberries.
- Frozen cranberries are processed into craisins and cranberry juice, often with added sugar due to their natural tartness.
- Whole fresh cranberries can be found in supermarkets during Thanksgiving season for making homemade cranberry sauce.