As millions enjoy cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving, the berries’ journey begins in bogs like those in southeastern Massachusetts.
Farmers, waist-deep in water, harvest cranberries by flooding the bogs, shaking berries free from vines, and corraling them for processing. Massachusetts, the second-largest U.S. cranberry producer after Wisconsin, expects to yield 2.2 million barrels this year, a 12% increase over 2023.
Despite a strong season, challenges like climate change, trade wars, and falling prices strain the industry. Rising nighttime temperatures and prolonged dry spells threaten cranberry plants, which thrive in cooler conditions.
Growers adapt by diversifying with solar installations and innovative farming techniques, ensuring this American Thanksgiving staple remains part of future celebrations.
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