It’s Time For Cranberries!

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Fall in New England means it’s cranberry harvest time!

If you haven’t taken a Cape Cod sightseeing trip to one of the many cranberry bogs in the region – NOW is the time to do it.

Did You Know?

Cape Cod lays claim to the majority of cranberry production in the United States.

Its history began back when the Indians introduced cranberries  to the Pilgrims in the early 1600s. The Pilgrims learned the benefits of cranberries quickly and began using them as a remedy against scurvy–similar to the way the English used limes.

A recipe for cranberry sauce first appeared in The Pilgrim Cookbook in 1633 and forty-four years later ten bushels were sent back to King Charles II of England.

Today, the cranberry industry is a major source of income for Cape Cod, totalling over 100 million dollars. More than 14,000 acres or 900 cranberry bogs are harvested every fall in Southeastern Massachusetts. More than half of the bogs are located right here on Cape Cod.

What Is A Cranberry Bog?

This is a very common question because many people outside New England don’t know what a bog really is.

A bog is technically a spongy, low-lying wetland that holds water and is full of ancient decayed vegetation. Since cranberries require constant moisture, bogs make a fertile and moist natural habitat for them to grow. Bogs are fed by water that drains from neighboring ponds and lakes. Besides providing nourishment, the water also provides protection against frost for young vines, which begin their annual cycle in early spring.

It’s Harvest Time!

Harvesting begins shortly after Labor Day and continues until the end of October.

If you’re interested in seeing these brilliant red cranberry bogs up close the Cranberry Growers Association offers a Cranberry Harvest Trail Guide – and many of the trails are close to the hotels on Cape Cod MA!

The Cape Farm & Cranberry Company in Harwich, MA also offers cranberry bog tours that are fun for the whole family.

There are ton of things to do on Cape Cod in the fall – but a bog tour is truly one-of-a- kind – and it’ll give you a new appreciation for that heaping bowl of cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving dinner table.

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