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The specificity of Canadian cranberries
Cranberry or cranberry
The cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon) is the cranberry of the Canadian First Nations and the cranberry of English speakers. These small, hard, red berries with such a distinctive taste are related to blueberries. They grow mainly in North America. In Canada, they are found mainly in Quebec and British Columbia.
Cranberries grow in vines on the ground and are grown in bogs, marshes or swamps. The place where they grow must be able to be flooded to allow the harvesting of the berries.
Flower pollination is carried out by pollinating insects, such as bees and bumblebees. To protect the vines from pests, growers often use insects in rotation.
Every year, the landscapes of the regions where it is grown change radically. The harvest begins only when the vines are perfectly dry. This condition must be met so that the berries separate more easily from the vine. The bogs where the cranberries grow are then filled with water. The fruits float on the surface because they contain a small pocket of air. Hand machines or water mills are then activated to finish detaching the fruits from the plant. When harvesting is done manually, workers walk through the water-filled swamps and rake the plants. They use berry combs, much like those used for blueberries, to harvest cranberries.
There is no need to replant after harvest, as the plant will continue to yield the following year.
It is a staple of holiday tables in North America, in sauce or jelly. Nowadays, the cranberry is more and more consumed because of its very interesting nutritional contributions. It is traditionally used by First Nations tribes in their food, but also to dye fabric or as a disinfectant. These tribes crushed them and mixed them with game meat and fat, to preserve them and give the superfood “pemmican”.
The benefits of cranberries
Sometimes considered a superfood in its own right, the cranberry is a small fruit that is very rich in nutrients. It contains a small mine of vitamins - especially C and K - and antioxidants (polyphenols). It would also contain less sugar and fewer calories than other berries.
This berry is said to have preventive properties for certain liver diseases and acts as a blood pressure regulator. Consuming cranberries regularly - plain, in juice or in another form - would also help to see better and improve cardiovascular health. She is also
beneficial for the intestinal flora, especially in those who consume sugar, meat and dairy products in quantity. Another well-known benefit of cranberry is that it would reduce or prevent the appearance of certain urinary tract infections.
According to the results of some research, these small berries would also have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Further studies are underway to determine if the proanthocyanidins they contain could help reduce the risk of cancer.
Despite many benefits, cranberries can also cause problems in certain people at risk. Those who are already prone to kidney stones should limit their intake of cranberries in any form. This fruit tends to promote their formation.
It has also been shown that the consumption of cranberry juice can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. It is therefore preferable to consult your doctor before consuming it regularly to avoid any contraindications.
The Canadian cranberry
Compared to the American cranberry, the Canadian one is bigger and more beautiful. Transport and packaging are also more careful. For many consumers, berries ordered fresh in Canada are always pristine and blemish-free. In comparison, there are often a few crushed cranberries in packaging from the United States.
The United States regularly imports canadian cranberries for their home market. The Canadian season indeed starts earlier and the fruits are available a few weeks before. This allows some US distributors to position themselves in the market before the national harvest.
However, the Canadian market is younger than that of its neighbour. There is less and less reliance on the use of pesticides and chemicals to control pests. Growers prefer to make rotational pest predatory insect introductions so that nature takes care of the problem itself. The country also does not appreciate the massive use of chemical fertilizers. For maximum effectiveness, growers use a combination of chemical, biological and physical methods to protect their cranberry vines. Thanks to this rigor in production methods, Canada is the largest producer of organic cranberries in the world. More than thirty Canadian cranberries benefit from the certification.
Canada also invests heavily in research for better agri-environmental practices and more efficient production techniques. He makes real efforts to improve the sector. You should also know that between 2005 and 2012, Canada planted massively in order to better position itself on the market.
Quebec is today the 2nd largest producing region. Four large processing companies are also located in the Centre-du-Québec region.
The Canadian region comes after Wisconsin and is followed by Massachusetts, both in the United States.
The cultivation, processing and trade of canadian cranberry mainly benefit Quebec. The vast majority of fresh fruit is sent to the United States. Once processed, the United States remains the main customer, but Canada also ships to Europe or Africa.
THE cranberries offered on our site all come from Canada. In juice, dried or still chocolate coated, you will find something for all tastes and all occasions!
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