Difference between revisions of "Cranberry"

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{{Taxobox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Vaccinium'' (see text)
| name = Cranberry
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| common_names = Cranberry
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| growth_habit = creeper
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| high = 5-20cm (2-6 in)
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| wide = 2m
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| origin = NE US, adjacent Canada
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan = perennial
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| exposure = full sun
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| water = frequent, regular, damp
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| features = fruit
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5[[Celsius|°C]], etc -->
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| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
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| usda_zones = 3a-7a
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| sunset_zones = 4-6, 32, 34, 36-45
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = Cranberry bog.jpg
 
| image = Cranberry bog.jpg
 
| image_width = 255px
 
| image_width = 255px
 
| image_caption = Cranberry fruit
 
| image_caption = Cranberry fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| regnum = Plantae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
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| ordo = Ericales
| familia = [[Ericaceae]]
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| familia = Ericaceae
| genus = ''[[Vaccinium]]''
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| genus = Vaccinium
| subgenus = ''Oxycoccus''
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| subgenus = Oxycoccus
| subdivision_ranks = Species
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| species =  
| subdivision =  
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| subspecies =  
''Vaccinium erythrocarpum''<br/>
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| cultivar =
''Vaccinium macrocarpon''<br/>
 
''Vaccinium microcarpum''<br/>
 
''Vaccinium oxycoccus''
 
 
}}
 
}}
[[Image:Cranberrymap.jpg|thumb|250px|Approximate ranges of the cranberries in sect. ''Oxycoccus'': Red: Common Cranberry. Orange: Small Cranberry. Green: American Cranberry.]]
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'''Cranberries''' are [[evergreen]] trailing vines or dwarf [[shrub]]s. They are a group of plants in the genus '''''[[Vaccinium]]''''' subgenus '''''Oxycoccus''''', although by some they are treated as a distinct '''''Oxycoccus''''' genus. Cranberries originate in [[acid]]ic [[bog]]s throughout cooler parts of the N Hemisphere.
  
'''Cranberries''' are a group of [[evergreen]] dwarf [[shrub]]s or trailing vines in the genus '''''[[Vaccinium]]''''' subgenus '''''Oxycoccus''''', or in some treatments, in the distinct genus '''''Oxycoccus'''''. They are found in [[acid]]ic [[bog]]s throughout the cooler parts of the [[Northern Hemisphere]].
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The plants are low, creeping shrubs or vines, reaching up to 2 m long and 5-20 cm in height [http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/about_cranberry.htm].  Stems are slender and wiry, but not thickly woody.  Leaves are small and [[evergreen]]. [[Flower]]s are a dark pink.  Flower [[petal]]s have very distinct ''reflex'' which fully exposes the style and stamens fully exposed and point forward. Honey bees pollinate the flowers. The fruit is classified as a [[berry]].  Berries are larger than the plant leaves.  Berries start out white, turning a very deep red when completely ripe.  Edible berries have an acidity which can overpower the sweetness.
  
Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2&nbsp;m long and 5 to 20&nbsp;cm in height [http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/about_cranberry.htm], with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small [[evergreen]] leaves. The [[flower]]s are dark pink, with very distinct ''reflexed'' [[petal]]s, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by domestic honey bees. The fruit is a [[berry]] that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an [[acid]]ic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.
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:''More information about this species can be found on the [[Vaccinium|genus page]].''
  
Cranberries are a major commercial crop in certain US states and Canadian provinces  (see "Cultivation and Uses" below). Most cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers.  [[Cranberry sauce]] is widely regarded as an indispensable part of the traditional American and Canadian [[Thanksgiving]] menu.
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==Cultivation==
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{{monthbox
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| color = IndianRed
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| name = <!--- type name of plant just to the right of the equal sign on the left -->
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| jan =
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| feb =
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| mar =
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| apr =
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| may =
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| jun =
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| jul =
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| aug =
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| sep =
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| oct =
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| nov =
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| dec =
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| notes =
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}}
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Cranberries need regular water during growing season.  Flooding is done by commercial growers only during harvest, or winter (to protect from cold). Thin layers of sand spread over cranberry beds every 3-5 years helps to reduce pests and to rejuvenate the vines.  
  
==Species and description==
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===Propagation===
[[Image:Vaccinum oxycoccos 120604.jpg|left|thumb|''Vaccinium oxycoccus'' flowers]]There are three to four species of cranberry, classified in two sections:
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Plants are propagated by moving established plant to a sand bed, and stems (vines) Are pushed into the sand every so often with something to keep them underground at that spot for roots to be established.  Plants need frequent watering during this phase of rooting, until the roots form and new shoots sprout.  Light applications of nitrogen fertilizer through the first growing season are common.
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 +
===Pests and diseases===
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Susceptible to false blossom.  Plants can be flooded to help control pests.
 +
 
 +
==Species==
 +
[[Image:Vaccinum oxycoccos 120604.jpg|left|thumb|''Vaccinium oxycoccus'' flowers]]Three to four species of cranberry exist, and are classified in two sections:
 
;Subgenus ''Oxycoccus'', sect. ''Oxycoccus''
 
;Subgenus ''Oxycoccus'', sect. ''Oxycoccus''
*'''''Vaccinium oxycoccus''''' or ''Oxycoccus palustris'' ('''Common Cranberry''' or '''Northern Cranberry''') is widespread throughout the cool temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]], including northern [[Europe]], northern [[Asia]] and northern [[North America]]. It has small 5-10 mm leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with a purple central spike, produced on finely hairy stems. The fruit is a small pale pink [[berry]], with a refreshing sharp acidic flavour.
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*'''''[[Vaccinium oxycoccus]]''''' or ''Oxycoccus palustris'' ('''Common Cranberry''' or '''Northern Cranberry''') is spread widely throughout the cool parts of the temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]] (all 3 continents). Small leaves are 5-10 mm. Flowers dark pink, on a central purple spike, come on stems which are finely hairy. The small pale pink fruit ([[berry]]), has a refreshing acidic taste.
*'''''Vaccinium microcarpum''''' or ''Oxycoccus microcarpus'' ('''Small Cranberry''') occurs in northern Europe and northern Asia, and differs from ''V. oxycoccus'' in the leaves being more triangular, and the flower stems hairless. Some botanists include it within ''V. oxycoccus''.
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*'''''[[Vaccinium microcarpum]]''''' or ''Oxycoccus microcarpus'' ('''Small Cranberry''') is from N Europe and N Asia, and has more triangular leaves than ''V. oxycoccus'', plus hairless flower stems. Some botanists include it within ''V. oxycoccus''.
*'''''Vaccinium macrocarpon''''' or ''Oxycoccus macrocarpus'' ('''American Cranberry''', '''Bearberry''') native to northeastern [[North America]] (eastern [[Canada]], and eastern [[United States]], south to [[North Carolina]] at high altitudes). It differs from ''V. oxycoccus'' in the leaves being larger, 10-20 mm long, and in its slightly apple-like taste.
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*'''''[[Vaccinium macrocarpon]]''''' or ''Oxycoccus macrocarpus'' ('''American Cranberry''', '''Bearberry''') native to northeastern N America (E [[Canada]], and E [[United States]], south to [[North Carolina]] at high altitudes). Differs from ''V. oxycoccus'' by its larger, 10-20 mm long leaves, and remotely apple-like flavor.
 
;Subgenus ''Oxycoccus'', sect. ''Oxycoccoides''
 
;Subgenus ''Oxycoccus'', sect. ''Oxycoccoides''
*'''''Vaccinium erythrocarpum''''' or ''Oxycoccus erythrocarpus'' ([[Southern Mountain Cranberry]]) native to southeastern [[North America]] at high altitudes in the southern [[Appalachian Mountains]], and also in eastern [[Asia]].
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*'''''[[Vaccinium erythrocarpum]]''''' or ''Oxycoccus erythrocarpus'' ([[Southern Mountain Cranberry]]) originates at high altitudes in the southern [[Appalachian Mountains]] in SE [[North America]], and E [[Asia]].
 
 
Cranberries are related to the [[bilberry|bilberries]], [[blueberry|blueberries]], and [[huckleberry|huckleberries]], all in ''Vaccinium'' subgenus ''Vaccinium''. These differ in having stouter, woodier stems forming taller shrubs, and in the bell-shaped flowers, the petals not being reflexed.
 
  
 
Some plants of the completely unrelated genus ''[[Viburnum]]'' are sometimes inaccurately called "highbush cranberries".
 
Some plants of the completely unrelated genus ''[[Viburnum]]'' are sometimes inaccurately called "highbush cranberries".
  
Cranberries are susceptible to false blossom, a harmful but controllable [[phytoplasma]] disease that is most common in the eastern production areas of Massachusetts and New Jersey.
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==Gallery==
 
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery -->
==Etymology and history==
 
The name cranberry probably derives from their being a favorite food of [[Crane (bird)|cranes]], though some sources claim the name comes from "'craneberry' because before the flower expands, its stem, calyx, and petals resembled the neck, head, and bill of a crane". Another name, used in northeastern Canada, is '''mossberry'''.  An old English name for ''Vaccinium oxycoccus'' is the '''fenberry''', because they were grown in [[fen]] (marsh) lands.
 
 
 
Cranberries have been eaten by [[Arctic]] peoples for millennia and remain a very popular fruit for wild harvesting in the [[Nordic countries]] and [[Russia]]. In [[Scotland]] the berries were formerly wild harvested but with the loss of suitable habitat, the plants have become so scarce that this is no longer done. In [[North America]], [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] were the first to recognise and use the cranberry as a source of food. Some tribes called the red berries '''Sassamanash'''. They are reported to have introduced the cranberry to starving English settlers in [[Massachusetts]] around 1620, who incorporated the berry into the traditional [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] feast. [[American Revolutionary War]] veteran [[Henry Hall (American)|Henry Hall]] is alleged to be the first to cultivate the cranberry commercially, in the [[Cape Cod]] town of [[Dennis (town), Massachusetts|Dennis]] around [[1816]].
 
 
 
==Cultivation and uses==
 
[[Image:Cranberrys beim Ernten.jpeg|thumb|left|Cranberry harvest in [[New Jersey]]]]
 
Cranberries are a major commercial crop in the American states of [[Massachusetts]], [[Michigan]], [[Minnesota]], [[New Jersey]], [[Oregon]], [[Washington]], and [[Wisconsin]], as well as in the Canadian provinces of [[British Columbia]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Ontario]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Quebec]].  Wisconsin has led the United States in cranberry production since 1995.  A very small production is found in southern Chile, in the Baltic States and in eastern Europe.
 
 
 
Historically, cranberry beds were constructed in wetlands.  Currently cranberry beds are constructed in upland areas that have a shallow water table.  The topsoil is scraped off to form dikes around the bed perimeter.  Clean sand is hauled in to a depth of four to eight inches.  The surface is laser leveled with a slight crown in the center to facilitate drainage.  Beds are frequently drained with socked tile in addition to the perimeter ditch.  In addition to making it possible to hold water, the dikes allow equipment to service the beds without driving on the vines.  Irrigation equipment is installed in the bed to provide [[irrigation]] for vine growth and for spring and fall frost protection.
 
 
 
Cranberry vines are propagated by moving vines from an established bed.  The vines are spread on the surface of the sand of the new bed and pushed into the sand with a blunt disk.  The vines are watered frequently during the first few weeks until roots form and new shoots grow.  Beds are given frequent light application of nitrogen fertilizer during the first year.  The cost of establishment for new cranberry beds is estimated to be about US$70,000 per hectare.
 
 
 
A common misconception about cranberry production is that the beds remain flooded throughout the year.  During the growing season cranberry beds are not flooded, but are irrigated regularly to maintain soil moisture.  Beds are flooded in the fall to facilitate harvest and again during the winter to protect against low temperatures.  In cold climates like Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and eastern Canada the winter flood typically freezes into ice while in warmer climates the water remains liquid.  When ice forms on the beds trucks can be driven onto the ice to spread a thin layer of sand that helps to control pests and to rejuvenate the vines.  Sanding is done every three to five years.
 
 
 
Cranberries are harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive deep red color.  This is usually in late September and into October.  To harvest cranberries the beds are flooded with six to eight inches of water.  A harvester is driven through the beds to remove the fruit from the vines.  For the past 50 years water reel type harvesters have been used. Harvested cranberries float in the water and can be corraled into a corner of the bed and conveyed or pumped from the bed.  From the farm, cranberries are taken to receiving stations where they are cleaned, sorted, and stored prior to packaging or processing.  In 2005 a new type of cranberry harvester called the Ruby Slipper was introduced into the industry.  Whether this type of harvester with fewer moving parts will be accepted by the industry still remains to be seen.
 
 
 
White cranberry juice drinks are made from regular cranberries that have been harvested after the fruit are mature, but before they have attained their characteristic dark red color.  Yields are lower on beds harvested early and the early flooding tends to damage vines, but not severely.
 
 
 
About 95% of cranberries are processed into products such as juice drinks, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries.  The remaining 5% is sold fresh to consumers.  Cranberries destined to processing are usually frozen in bulk containers shortly after arriving at a receiving station.  Cranberries for fresh market are stored in shallow bins or boxes with perforated or slatted bottoms to allow air movement to prevent decay. Because harvest occurs in late fall cranberries for fresh market are frequently stored in thick walled barns without mechanical refrigeration.  Temperatures are regulated by opening and closing vents in the barn as needed.
 
 
 
Usually cranberries as fruit are served as a [[compote]] or [[jelly]], often known generically as [[cranberry sauce]]. Such preparations are traditionally served with roast [[Domesticated turkey|turkey]] meat and are considered by some to be a staple of the [[Thanksgiving (Canada)|Canadian]] and [[Holidays of the United States|US holiday]] [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]]. The berry is also used in baking ([[muffin]]s, [[scones]] and [[cake]]s) but, unlike many other berries, is normally considered too sharp to be eaten unaccompanied.
 
 
 
Fresh cranberries can be frozen at home, and will keep up to nine months; they can be used directly in recipes without thawing.[http://www.library.wisc.edu/guides/agnic/cranberry/faq.htm]
 
 
 
Cranberry juice, usually sweetened to reduce its natural severe tartness and make "cranberry juice cocktail" or blended with other fruit juices, is a major use of cranberries.
 
 
 
== Health benefits ==
 
 
 
Cranberries are a source of [[polyphenol antioxidant]]s, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the [[cardiovascular system]] and [[immune system]].
 
 
 
There is some use of cranberry juice by people with [[spinal paralysis]]; regular consumption of the juice is supposed to reduce the rate of [[urinary tract infection]]s. While much of the evidence is equivocal, a number of [[double-blind]] [[clinical trial]]s have been carried out that suggest there actually is an effect: a component of the juice appears to competitively inhibit bacterial attachment to the [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] and [[urethra]][http://www.idsociety.org/Content/ContentGroups/News_Releases/2004_Meeting/A_Glass_(or_Two)_of_Cranberry_Juice_A_Day_May_Keep_Bladder_Infection_Away.htm] allowing the bacteria to be flushed out more easily.  Cranberries also act as a [[prebiotic (nutrition)|prebiotic]], promoting the growth of beneficial [[lactobacillus]] bacteria while inhibiting the growth of harmful [[Escherichia coli|E. coli]] and [[listeria]].
 
 
 
An autumn 2004 caution from the [[Committee on Safety of Medicines]], the UK agency dealing with drug safety, advised patients taking [[warfarin]] not to drink cranberry juice after adverse effects were reported.
 
 
 
Cranberries also contain significant concentrations of [[benzoic acid]], which in combination with [[Vitamin C]] forms small amounts of the [[List of IARC Group 1 carcinogens|group 1 carcinogen]] [[benzene]].<ref>[http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/245/indications_of_the_possible_formation_of_benzene_from_benzoic_acid_in_foods.pdf Indications of the possible formation of benzene from benzoic acid in foods (pdf file).]</ref>
 
 
 
Cranberry juice contains a chemical component, a high [[Molecular mass|molecular weight]] non-[[Dialysis (biochemistry)|dializable]] material (NDM), that is able to inhibit and even reverse the formation of [[plaque]] by [[Streptococcus]] mutan pathogens that cause tooth decay.<ref>[http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/health/dental.htm The Cranberry Institute]</ref><ref>[http://www.webmd.com/content/article/115/111780 Blocking tooth decay]</ref>
 
 
 
Cranberry juice also supposedly prevents the formation of kidney stones.
 
 
 
==Marketing and economics==
 
{{globalize/USA}}
 
===History===
 
 
 
Cranberry sales have traditionally been associated with the [[United States]] [[holiday]]s of [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] and [[Christmas]].  Until the [[1930s]] most of the crop was sold fresh. 
 
 
 
Cranberry growers have a long history of cooperative [[marketing]].  As early as [[1904]], John Gaynor, a [[Wisconsin]] grower, and A.U. Chaney, a fruit broker from [[Des Moines, Iowa]], organized Wisconsin growers into a cooperative called the Wisconsin Cranberry Sales Company to receive a uniform price from buyers.  Growers in [[New Jersey]] and [[Massachusetts]] were also organized into cooperatives, creating the National Fruit Exchange that marketed fruit under the [[Eatmor]] [[brand]].  The success of cooperative marketing almost led to its failure.  With consistent and high prices, acreage and production doubled between 1903 and 1917 and prices fell.  In 1918, [[US$]]54,000 was spent on advertising, leading to US$1 million in increased sales.
 
 
 
With [[surplus]] cranberries and changing American households some enterprising growers began [[canning]] cranberries that were below-grade for fresh market.  [[Competition]] between canners was fierce because [[profit]]s were thin.  The [[Ocean Spray]] cooperative was established in 1930 through a merger of three primary processing companies: Ocean Spray Preserving company, Makepeace Preserving Co, and Cranberry Products Co.  The new company was called Cranberry Canners, Inc. and used the Ocean Spray label on their products.  Since the new company represented over 90% of the market, it would have been illegal (cf. [[antitrust]]) had [[attorney]] John Quarles not found an exemption for [[agricultural cooperative]]s. As of [[2006]], about 65% of the North American industry belongs to the Ocean Spray cooperative.  (The percentage may be slightly higher in [[Canada]] than in the U.S.)
 
 
 
A turning point for the industry occurred on [[November 9]], [[1959]] when the secretary of the [[United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] [[Arthur S. Flemming]] announced that some of the 1959 crop was tainted with traces of the [[herbicide]] [[aminotriazole]].  The market for cranberries collapsed and growers lost millions of dollars.  However, the scare taught the industry that they could not be completely dependent on the holiday market for their products and had to find year round markets for their fruit.  They also had to be excruciatingly careful about their use of [[pesticide]]s.
 
 
 
After the aminotriazole scare, Ocean Spray reorganized and spent substantial sums on [[product development]].  New products such as cranberry apple [[juice]] blends were introduced, followed by other juice blends.
 
  
A [[Federal Marketing Order]] that is authorized to synchronize supply and demand was approved in 1962.  The order has been renewed and modified slightly in subsequent years, but it has allowed for more stable marketing.  The market order has been invoked during six crop years: [[1962]] (12%), [[1963]] (5%), [[1970]] (10%), [[1971]] (12%), [[2000]] (15%), and [[2001]] (35%).  Even though supply still slightly exceeds demand, there is little will to invoke the Federal Marketing Order out of the realization that any pullback in supply by U.S. growers would easily be filled by Canadian production.
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<gallery>
 
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Image:Cranberrys beim Ernten.jpeg|Cranberry harvest in [[New Jersey]]
Prices and production increased steadily during the 1980s and 1990s. Prices peaked at about $65.00 per barrel (A cranberry barrel = 100 pounds or 45.4 kg) in 1996 then fell to $18.00 per barrel in 2001.  The cause for the preciptous drop was classic oversupply.  Production had outpaced consumption leading to substantial inventory in freezers or as concentrate.   
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Image:Cranberrymap.jpg|Approximate ranges of the cranberries in sect. ''Oxycoccus'': Red: Common Cranberry. Orange: Small Cranberry. Green: American Cranberry.
 
+
</gallery>
Cranberry handlers (processors) include [[Ocean Spray (cooperative)|Ocean Spray]], Cliffstar, Inc., Northland Cranberries, Clement Pappas & Co., Decas Cranberry Products as well as a number of small handlers and processors. <ref> [http://www.pubhort.org/hr/hr21/HR_21_07_00000000.pdf] </ref>
 
 
 
 
 
==Nutrition==
 
 
 
Cranberries exhibit a level of [[tannin]]s, in addition to [[antioxidant]]s. Tannins have anti-[[clotting]] properties, and may help reduce both [[urinary tract infection]]s and the amount of [[dental plaque]]-causing bacteria in the mouth, thus being a [[prophylaxis]] for [[gingivitis]].<ref>[http://www.umaine.edu/umext/cranberries/Health%20Benefits%20-%20Keep%20Doctor%20&%20Dentist%20Away.htm University of Maine]</ref>
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|colspan=2|'''Nutrients in raw cranberries'''<ref>[http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data Laboratory -- USDA Nutrient Database] ''A searchable index of food nutrient composition.'' Search on cranberries for raw cranberry nutrient composition. Search on cranberry for other cranberry products.</ref>
 
|-
 
! Nutrient
 
! Value per 100 grams
 
|-
 
| Energy
 
| 46 kcal
 
|-
 
| Fiber, total dietary
 
| 4.6 g
 
|-
 
| Sugars, total
 
| 4.04 g
 
|-
 
| Calcium, Ca
 
| 8 mg
 
|-
 
| Magnesium, Mg
 
| 6 mg
 
|-
 
| Phosphorus, P
 
| 13 mg
 
|-
 
| Potassium, K
 
| 85 mg
 
|-
 
| Sodium, Na
 
| 2 mg
 
|-
 
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid
 
| 13.3 mg
 
|-
 
| Vitamin A, IU
 
| 60 IU
 
|-
 
| Carotene, beta
 
| 36 mcgJ
 
|-
 
| Lutein + zeaxanthin
 
| 91 mcg
 
|}
 
 
 
See also: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl?1039 Chemicals in ''Vaccinium macrocarpon'']
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
<div class="references-small">
+
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<references/>
+
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
</div>
+
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
{{cookbook}}
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*{{wplink}}
* Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?18661 Sect. ''Oxycoccus''] and [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?18658 Sect. ''Oxycoccoides'']
+
 
* [http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=CON007448&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased  October 2004 "Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance" (pdf file)] - has [[warfarin]] and cranberry juice caution, p. 10.
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{{stub}}
* [http://carecure.org/index.php?page=viewarticle&afile=0007@7_November_2001@Cranberry_UTI.htm 2001 review] of evidence for therapeutic effects of cranberry juice
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[[Category:Categorize]]
* [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=2653218 1989 study] of cranberry juice's possible role in inhibiting bacterial adherence to bladder cells
 
* [http://www.cranberryinstitute.org The Cranberry Institute] for information on cranberry's health benefits.
 
* [http://www.wiscran.org/ Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association] for information on cranberry culture
 
* [http://www.cranberries.org Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association] for information on cranberry culture
 
* [http://www.umass.edu/cranberry University of Massachusetts Amherst Cranberry Station] for information on cranberry research
 
* [http://www.library.wisc.edu/guides/agnic/cranberry/cranhome.html Cranberry Library Page] Exhaustive link page for cranberry information hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
 
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=44426885&x=-89758258&z=15&l=0&m=s Wikimapia] An overhead view of a cranberry farm near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
 
*[http://www.umaine.edu/umext/cranberries/Health%20Benefits%20-%20Keep%20Doctor%20&%20Dentist%20Away.htm Cranberries keep the doctor and dentist away.]
 
  
[[Category:Ericaceae]]
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<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->
[[Category:Fruit]]
 

Revision as of 20:42, 12 March 2009


Cranberry fruit


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: perennial
Origin: NE US, adjacent Canada
Cultivation
Exposure: full sun"full sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: frequent"frequent" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property., regular"regular" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property., damp"damp" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: fruit
Sunset Zones: 4-6, 32, 34, 36-45
Scientific Names

Ericaceae >

Vaccinium >


Cranberries are evergreen trailing vines or dwarf shrubs. They are a group of plants in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, although by some they are treated as a distinct Oxycoccus genus. Cranberries originate in acidic bogs throughout cooler parts of the N Hemisphere.

The plants are low, creeping shrubs or vines, reaching up to 2 m long and 5-20 cm in height [1]. Stems are slender and wiry, but not thickly woody. Leaves are small and evergreen. Flowers are a dark pink. Flower petals have very distinct reflex which fully exposes the style and stamens fully exposed and point forward. Honey bees pollinate the flowers. The fruit is classified as a berry. Berries are larger than the plant leaves. Berries start out white, turning a very deep red when completely ripe. Edible berries have an acidity which can overpower the sweetness.

More information about this species can be found on the genus page.

Cultivation

calendar?
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
Notes:

Cranberries need regular water during growing season. Flooding is done by commercial growers only during harvest, or winter (to protect from cold). Thin layers of sand spread over cranberry beds every 3-5 years helps to reduce pests and to rejuvenate the vines.

Propagation

Plants are propagated by moving established plant to a sand bed, and stems (vines) Are pushed into the sand every so often with something to keep them underground at that spot for roots to be established. Plants need frequent watering during this phase of rooting, until the roots form and new shoots sprout. Light applications of nitrogen fertilizer through the first growing season are common.

Pests and diseases

Susceptible to false blossom. Plants can be flooded to help control pests.

Species

Vaccinium oxycoccus flowers

Three to four species of cranberry exist, and are classified in two sections:

Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccus
  • Vaccinium oxycoccus or Oxycoccus palustris (Common Cranberry or Northern Cranberry) is spread widely throughout the cool parts of the temperate Northern Hemisphere (all 3 continents). Small leaves are 5-10 mm. Flowers dark pink, on a central purple spike, come on stems which are finely hairy. The small pale pink fruit (berry), has a refreshing acidic taste.
  • Vaccinium microcarpum or Oxycoccus microcarpus (Small Cranberry) is from N Europe and N Asia, and has more triangular leaves than V. oxycoccus, plus hairless flower stems. Some botanists include it within V. oxycoccus.
  • Vaccinium macrocarpon or Oxycoccus macrocarpus (American Cranberry, Bearberry) native to northeastern N America (E Canada, and E United States, south to North Carolina at high altitudes). Differs from V. oxycoccus by its larger, 10-20 mm long leaves, and remotely apple-like flavor.
Subgenus Oxycoccus, sect. Oxycoccoides

Some plants of the completely unrelated genus Viburnum are sometimes inaccurately called "highbush cranberries".

Gallery

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References

External links