Monday, November 13, 2023

’Tis the Season for Cranberries!

Image courtesy of A complete manual for
the cultivation of the cranberry
One of the images that people conjure in their minds when they think about Massachusetts is the cranberry, and that is for good reason. Not only is the cranberry the official berry of our state, but it also has quite a history in the Commonwealth. We have a blog post about the cranberry from a few years back and since it’s cranberry season, we thought it was the perfect time to shed some light on that post once again! The post delves into the history of the cranberry in the Commonwealth from the Indigenous people of this land, to the arrival of European colonists in Plymouth in 1620, then moves into the 1800s when a sea captain brought cranberries to Cape Cod, and next provides information on the contemporary cranberry industry. There are some great images as well, so be sure to give it a read!

In addition to the wealth of information in that blog post, we wanted to highlight some other fun facts about the berry of the Commonwealth. The cranberry was a highly-valued crop to the Indigenous people of the current New England area. They referred to this berry as Sassamenesh. When the colonists arrived in New England, they called this berry the “crane-berry,” after the white blossoms that appeared in early June, which resembled the heads of cranes.

Image courtesy of A complete manual for the cultivation of the cranberry

Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association (CCCGA), established in 1888, is one of the nation’s oldest farmer’s associations. According to their website, cranberry cultivation began in 1816. Revolutionary War veteran Captain Henry Hall from Dennis, Massachusetts, had wild cranberry bogs and noticed that the berries grew better when sand from the Cape Cod dunes blew over them. Captain Hall then began transplanting cranberry vines and spreading sand on them to spark their growth. The sand not only helps the vines grow, but also slows the growth of insects and weeds. Word spread about the technique Hall discovered and it was adopted by the increasing number of growers throughout the 1800s. Today, cranberry growers spread one or two inches of sand on their cranberry bogs every three years. As time has gone on, the cranberry has adapted to change and the modern world, just like its name. Earl Mills Sr, Flying Chief Eagle of the Mashpee Wampanoags, said that in many ways, “the history of this indigenous fruit mirrors that of the native people.”
Did you know that UMASS Amherst’s Center for Food, Agriculture, and the Environment has a Cranberry Station in East Wareham, MA? Serving as an outreach and research center, this part of UMASS’ campus has a mission to maintain and enhance “the economic viability of the Massachusetts Cranberry Industry through research and outreach and serving the public welfare by supporting economic development and the protection of the environment.” They also share information about how cranberries grow, as does the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. The CCCGA created the graphic below to show the layers of sand, peat, gravel, and clay-like materials that are needed for these berries to grow:

Image courtesy of Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association

For more information about cranberries, including a timeline of major events related to cranberry history, check out the CCCGA’s website. Be sure to read our previous blog post on cranberries as well--it’s full of “berry” good information!

Posted by at