Fall is well underway and winter is fast approaching. Although various regions of the country seem to be staving off Old Man Frost for the most part, the Cranberry Marketing Committee doesn’t want you to forget about their favorite fruit of the season, and adds the fruit is available year-long.
Cranberries grow on low-lying vines in watertight beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. These beds, commonly known as bogs or marshes, were originally created by glacial deposits. Commercial bogs/marshes use a system of wetlands, uplands, ditches, flumes, ponds and other water bodies to provide a natural habitat for the cranberry vines.
The cranberry season begins in winter, when growers flood the bogs/marshes with water that freezes and insulates the vines from frost. During spring, the bogs/marshes are drained, blossoms begin to appear, and through the summer, the cranberries become red, ripe and ready to gather. Cranberries are typically harvested in September and October.
Not only are cranberries extremely tasty and versatile in culinary applications, they’re also a mighty healthy fruit with the unique power to fight bacteria. What’s more, cranberries have been shown to have more antioxidant phenols than 19 commonly eaten fruits. These antioxidants can help aid a healthy immune system, maintain heart health, protect healthy cells from damage, and promote successful aging.
The committee encourages consumers to try using the red berries in sauces, beverages, desserts, vinaigrettes and salads. Here are some of the committee’s ideas:
— Make a simple, elegant relish for sandwiches or salads by combining oranges, fresh cranberries and sugar in a blender for a blast of flavor.
— Make dinnertime dynamic with a simple glaze for chicken. Over the stovetop, combine and simmer fresh cranberries, brown sugar, Dijon- style mustard and a touch of molasses. Pour over chicken, cover and bake.
— Whisk homemade cranberry compote into a vinaigrette for hearty winter green salads.
— Create a cranberry frozen margarita by blending frozen cranberries with a favorite margarita mix and confectioners sugar to taste.
— Whip up an antioxidant smoothie by combining frozen cranberries, frozen blueberries, vanilla-flavored yogurt, milk and honey.