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Superfruit -

Cranberries can be considered a superfruit for their health benefits. They are related to bilberries, blueberries, and huckleberries, and have been cultivated for centuries.

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Early uses -

The Indigenous peoples of North America used cranberries and chokecherries in pemmican, a mixture of rendered beef suet and dried berries. Cranberries were also used as medicine and clothing dye. The pictorial decoration on this Plains Indian rawhide container depicts berries and berry leaves.

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Use throughout history -

Historically, cranberry fruits or leaves were used for bladder, stomach, and liver disorders, as well as for diabetes, wounds, and other conditions.

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Etymology -

The name cranberry derives from the Middle Low German kraanbere (English translation: "craneberry"). We have a species of bird to thank for its better-known name.

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Namesake -

After arriving in North America, the Pilgrims gave this fruit the name "crane berry" because its pink blossom reminded them of the head of a crane, specifically the sandhill crane (pictured) and the rarer whooping crane.

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Cultivation -

Cranberries were first cultivated in the early 1800s by American Revolutionary War veteran Henry Hall. He established a thriving export business out of Cape Cod, shipping the berries to New York City and Boston, from where shipments were also delivered to Europe.

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Harvesting -

Back in the day, harvesting cranberries was no easy task. The job required teams of workers who gathered the berries by hand.

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Working the land -

Later, crops were harvested using large wooden scoops. These implements lightened the effort somewhat, but the days were still long and exhausting.

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Geography -

Cranberries grow on low-lying vines in beds layered with sand, peat, gravel, and clay, nourished by an adequate fresh water supply. This wetland area is commonly referred to as a bog or marsh.

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Commercial production -

Commercial bogs use a system of wetlands, uplands, ditches, flumes, ponds, and other water bodies.

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Methods of harvest -

Cranberries are harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive deep red color. The berries are harvested by two basic methods: dry harvest and water, or wet, harvest (pictured), which is the most popular practice.

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World's top producer -

According to World Population Review, the United States is the overwhelming number one global producer of cranberries, growing 404,880 tons annually. They're a major commercial crop in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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Canadian cranberry production -

In Canada, most commercial production of cranberries occurs in British Columbia and Quebec. Canada's annual output numbers approximately 195,196 tons.

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Sweet and sour -

Cranberries are an acidic fruit. So much so that the fruit's acidity overwhelms its sweetness. But when they're cooked, cranberries release all their sweet-tart flavor.

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Cranberry products -

Typically, cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, jam, or sweetened dried cranberries.

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Cranberry sauce -

In the United States, cranberry sauce is considered an indispensable part of a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. In the United Kingdom, it's a favorite condiment with a Christmas Day lunch.

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Superfood -

Fresh cranberries are considered a superfruit and a superfood, though, of course, they are rarely eaten raw. They are an excellent source of certain vitamins and minerals, and also contain a number of different plant compounds.

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Health benefits -

There is scientific evidence that consuming cranberry products (such as juice or capsules) is effective for reducing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women and children, and in people susceptible to UTIs following clinical interventions. This is according to studies carried out in 2023 by British charitable organization Cochrane.

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Preventative properties -

Besides UTIs, cranberries may also help prevent stomach cancer and heart disease.

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Packed with vitamins -

Cranberries are packed with vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is one of the predominant antioxidants in cranberries. It's essential for the maintenance of your skin, muscles, and bone. Vitamin C is also vital to your body's healing process.

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Full of minerals -

As well as vitamin C, cranberries contain manganese, essential for growth, metabolism, and your body's antioxidant system.

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Trace elements -

Vitamin E, a class of essential fat-soluble antioxidants, and vitamin K1, essential for blood clotting, are also present in cranberries. So too is copper, a trace element that works with iron to form healthy red blood cells. Copper is an essential component of many enzymes involved in chemical reactions throughout the body.

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Anti-inflammatory properties -

Cranberries are well known for their potent anti-inflammatory properties. This is thanks to their high amounts of antioxidants, especially anthocyanins and flavanols, which give cranberries their dark hue.

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Other health benefits -

Cranberries are also said have anti-aging properties and may promote eye health and vision. Additionally, they can reinforce the immune system.

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Ways to enjoy cranberries -

Cranberries aren't just for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are numerous ways of incorporating this superfood into your everyday diet. For example, sprinkling a handful of dried cranberries onto a breakfast of crunchy granola works wonders for your digestive system.

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Mealtime treat -

Tender ribs served with a salad of lettuce, tomato, and peach dabbed with homemade cranberry sauce is a mealtime treat anytime of the year.

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Delicious dessert -

For a delicious dessert, prepare a homemade cranberry filling that's simple, sweet, and tangy. Top the lot with nuts and oatmeal, and slowly bake in the oven.

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Super smoothie -

Cranberries go oh so easily into smoothies. It's a nutritious drink packed with antioxidants and all the essential vitamins and minerals previously mentioned.

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Trail mix boost -

Add dried sweetened cranberries to your trail mix for an energy boost that'll keep you going!

Sources: (BBC Good Food) (Healthline) (World Population Review) (The Canadian Encyclopedia) (Cochrane)

See also: Wild berries you can pick and eat. 

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