Ripe cranberries are harvested from September to early November. This is done in two different ways; dry and wet harvesting. 95% of the cranberries are harvested the wet way.

Dry harvesting

When the cranberries are well ripe, they start with dry harvesting. Farmers use small harvesters with rotating rakes to pick the berries directly from the stems. The berries fall on a conveyor belt and are collected in a container. Then they are sorted manually and the berries can be packed and exported.

Wet harvesting

Because every cranberry has four air chambers, cranberries float easily. This knowledge is used during harvesting. First the cranberry area is flooded with water, the berries are picked by machine and then the cranberries will float on the water. It is a colourful spectacle, the autumnal landscape in the north of the United States turns red with ‘cranberry lakes’. The cranberries are then sucked out of the water and loaded onto a truck by a conveyor belt. As soon as the berries are dried, they are ready for export.

Check out the fascinating way to harvest

8 Interesting facts about cranberries

  1. Cranberries protect the bladder and gastrointestinal tract. They contain dense tannins which can prevent bacteria from settling on the mucous membranes, which are considered to cause infections of the urinary tract or certain stomach disorders.
  2. Cranberries are rich in antioxidants, protecting the body cells against free radical damage - a cause of cancer, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, premature aging of the skin.
  3. Dried cranberries taste good as a snack in between, in muesli and yogurt or with fresh fruit. In many recipes, you can replace fresh cranberries with dried ones.
  4. Fresh cranberries contain pectin. Boiled in water and sweetened with sugar, it creates a viscous sauce that tastes good with meat, vegetables and dessert.
  5. Cranberry juice tastes wonderfully fruity and a little bitter with a slightly sweet note. You can drink it pure or mix it with mineral water, other types of juice or even alcoholic beverages.
  6. Sealed vacuum at 18 ˚C, dried cranberries can be kept for at least one year. Fresh cranberries can be stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for up to three months or frozen at - 18 ˚C for up to a year.
  7. Fresh cranberries are available from October to December. Dried fruits, cranberry juice and other products are available all year round.
  8. 100 grams of dried cranberries provide 308 kcal and contain health-promoting secondary plant substances and minerals. 100 grams of fresh berries provide 46 kcal, vitamins C, A, K and potassium.

Enjoy these little red vitamin bombs! Would you like to have more information, don’t hesitate to contact our specialist team.

 

Source:
watkokenwevandaag.wordpress.com