Cranberry Seasons

Whatever the season, whatever the fruit or vegetable crop, the farmer always must move forward to assure his precious land will produce the best of nature's bounty.  Some local farms have been in a family for generations, handed down always hoping the heirs will continue the love of the land, and the pride of utilizing their farms to produce life saving food.  It's cranberry harvest time in New Jersey, and the crop looks relatively good after excessive rain, heat, and dryness and whatever weather conditions can make your day.  Most of the farms are Ocean Spray grower-owned, and Ocean Spray only uses quality fruit to produce their increasing line of tasty products.

                                                      SPRING

 

 

Spring can be a difficult time, since the temperature fluctuates and a natural frost can be devastating to the buds or blooms.



The vines are protected with a coating of ice.  The sprinklers are activated when the temperature is close to 32 degrees.  When the sun warms the vines and the ice melts the sprinklers are turned off.

Spraying the bogs with fertilizers and chemicals can be made easier with the use of  hired crop planes.  These pilots do a great job since many bogs are surrounded by tall trees.

The bee hives are  brought to the farm in May.  The honey bee is vital to the pollination of the cranberries.  The beekeeper will use the honey to make  cranberry honey.

The bloom is small and delicate, in time each bloom will turn into a green then red berry.

                                                           SUMMER

The vines are now lush and green. Can you find the green berries?

There's always work to be done to keep the bog, dams, and farm in A-1 condition.  This bog has been harvested and a reddish tint has already begun to show it's  fall colors.

An end of summer comes to mind when a soon to be fall is approaching.

 

                                                        FALL

The water picking machines, operated by the young men go around and around, knocking the berries off the vines.  The berries will float to the top where another group of workers will begin gathering them.

This young man is getting the machine ready that will suck the berries out of the bog to the waiting truck.

This is what the farmer hopes for, a bog of berries.  It was a beautiful day, but the workers will work rain or shine.

Every year this gentleman makes an appearance.  He lives in the area, but watching the harvest is something he enjoys each year.

The berries are being contained and the bog is just about completed.

The trucks are loaded and ready to roll to the receiving station.

After reaching the receiving station, the berries are dumped into a pool where they are thoroughly washed.

 A conveyor now takes the fruit to the operation that helps clean the berries for shipment to the processing plant.

The process is almost complete.  The berries will be taken to the the processing plant where they will be made into juice, sauce, craisins and many other healthy choices.  Now we go back to the farm.

All appears to be quiet, another fall season has come and gone, and the harvest is now over.

The egrets are having a feast on crickets which are quite plentiful.

                                                       WINTER

The winter will come and the snow will blow, but the vines will be protected under water. Quite often the water will freeze and several inches of ice will cover the bog. There is one thing to do and that is wait for spring where the process begins again. Enjoy cranberries, muffins, cookies, and cranberry bread. Serve sauce more times than Thanksgiving. Happy Cranberry Holidays!