All about cranberry harvesting in Canada

This fruit, which represents Canada very well, is endemic to North America. This red and sour berry is widely cultivated in Quebec and British Columbia. Only the American cranberry or large-fruited cranberry varieties are used for trade.

The cranberry is an emblematic fruit of Canada, where it is also called Atoca in the native language. It is small, round and rather hard.

Crops are mostly found in southern Canada. It is related to blueberries. Its taste is described as both sour and sour.

It grows on vines in freshwater bogs, flat swamps, or marshes that provide the acidic, moist soil they need to grow. You can also add sawdust, peat or sand to the soil. The vines do not grow in rows, which complicates the cultivation of cranberries. To protect them from pests, a real insect management plan must be put in place over time.

Pollination is done naturally by bumblebees or bees. Once the fruits form, there are between one and three per branch. In murissan, their color changes from green to red. Traditionally, cranberries are eaten at Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners. It is widely consumed today, partly because of its nutritional qualities and its benefits for the body.

Moreover, with regard to their contributions, they contain 23 calories for a half cup. They are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants - especially flavonoids. They have beneficial effects for cholesterol, oral health, stomach and heart. They would also help prevent urinary tract infections and calm gastric ulcers. People under certain drug treatments should however avoid consuming them because they can interact with certain molecules.

Cranberries were traditionally used by native people as a medicine, although they also consumed them as food. It is an ingredient that helps preserve meat and fish, while adding vitamins to them.

When choosing fresh cranberries, take them smooth, shiny, firm and fleshy. They can be stored quite easily, just place them in a paper bag, without washing them. In this way, they can be kept for up to 2 months in the refrigerator. Those who prefer to freeze them can keep them for almost a year.

There is only one harvest season per year, from mid-September to early November.

Cranberries from the dry harvest are intended to supply the fresh fruit market. This type of harvest happens at the beginning of the season.

In order for the fruit to be picked, the vines must be perfectly dry. A simple light drizzle the night before, a heavy dew or wet ground after a night of frost represent real challenges and can delay the harvest.

The fruits are harvested using mechanical harvesters of the Western or Darlington type. They go through the bogs to dislodge the cranberries from the plants. They are then sent to jute bags or wooden crates. Once the containers are filled, the machines are stopped, the containers are removed to place another empty one. Once enough bags or crates are filled, they are transported by tractor or by hand to large containers which are stacked as they are filled. They are then transported by machine, truck or helicopter to the storage area or the sorting plant.

Although this type of harvest represents only a tiny percentage of all cranberry production in Canada, it is necessary for the supply of fresh fruit.

Most - 90% - cultivated cranberries is harvested in this way. Cranberries from it are used in making juices, sauces, sweetened and dried cranberries, ingredients, and other prepared foods or nutrition products.

The inside of the fruit has an air pocket, so it floats in water. The bogs in which the fruits are grown are filled with water to facilitate their harvest. Watermills are then activated in the water to help the fruits detach themselves from the plants.

The berries are collected on a kind of wooden or plastic ramp before being lifted or pumped to bring them to the receiving station for cleaning. Wet harvesting usually takes place well into the season.

On our site, we offer several products based on this typical Canadian fruit. Do you like dried cranberries in your culinary preparations or as a small snack? Let yourself be tempted by our dried cranberry berry, available in packaging of 150g, 500g and 1kg. Are you watching your sugar intake? Opt for our less sweet dried cranberry in 225g. If you prefer the look or texture of the whole berry, you can take our dried whole cranberry, 454g or in 1kg.

For information, the dried cranberry is very easily added to breads, cookies or cakes. It can also be added to salads, seafood, vegetables and even in hamburgers for a tangy and original note. We advise you to let them macerate in liquid before using them so that they regain their softness.

Cranberry juice is mild, sweet, slightly acidic and with a somewhat bitter aftertaste. If it is easily drunk in cocktails, it is also very easily added to sauces. We offer you pure organic cranberry juice without sugar 500 ml and pure organic cranberry and blueberry juice 500 ml on our site. You will also find it in its concentrated version, in 300ml and in 1L. Do not hesitate to discover our Cranberry-Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, to add a touch of originality to your salads.

For gourmets, we offer some sweets on our site. Let yourself be tempted by our dark chocolate coated cranberries, 120g and 325g. To add sweetness to your pancakes, why not let yourself be tempted by our cranberry maple syrup 250 ml ?

Cranberry black tea is a product that our customers also like. It is available in 24 sachets simple, but also in a wooden box 25 sachets.