unique agriculture

Henry Hall was the first known cultivator of cranberries in the USA., beginning growing in 1816. By the 1860s, cranberry growing had spread to Wisconsin, which remains the largest cranberry producer of all American states.

As a crop, the cranberry is a unique agriculture, growing on low vines in marshy areas. Harvesting is also unique - growers flood their bogs, causing cranberries, which have small air pockets in the centre, to rise. The berries are then skimmed from the surface.

cranberries in europe

Europe has its own cranberry growing areas. Swamp cranberries are very popular in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the Baltic countries. These berries are harvested by hand where they grow wild in peat swamps, and are a slightly different type to those found in N America.

On the right we can observe a strapping couple after a hard day in the cranberry swamps of Estonia, seemingly proud of the honest day's toil which has passed them by.

They have picked so many cranberries that the swamps behind them seem almost bereft of colour, and as night falls, their thoughts turn to other things; to dancing, drinking cranberry schnapps and frolicking through the countryside until their weary heads hit their pillows back on the family farm.

Estonians aside, people seem to drink cranberry juice these days because it's very good for you. The number of ailments which cranberries are said to help cure is amazing:
Cranberries stop bacteria from growing in the urinary tract, thus decreasing the chance of infection. Preliminary studies have suggested that cranberries inhibit the growth of tumours in breast cancer. Other studies have shown that cranberry juice might promote cardiovascular health, preventing cholesterol from becoming oxidized (cholesterol gets nastier when it's oxidized). Good eh?

Get dressed up in the national costume of Estonia before sending your fruit inspiration to fruitcorner@innocentdrinks.co.uk