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Let’s talk about Cranberry Marsh Tours. Cranberries are one of the signature agricultural products of Wisconsin and a staple food during dinner across the US. This is a tiny fruit, and the state takes care of 50% of the world’s supply and generates nearly USD 1 billion in annual revenue. Cranberry is the official fruit of Wisconsin. These fruits have the highest level of antioxidants and are free from fats and cholesterol.
Origin of Cranberries
The Native Americans were the first to have harvested the cranberries. Known initially as craneberries, the name later got changed to cranberry. Bees are said to be essential for cranberry crops as they play an essential role in pollinating the small flowers. The cranberries grow in sandy bogs, and contrary to what many people think, the cranberries never grow in the water. Only in the fall season, the bogs are flooded to help in the harvest or in an attempt to protect the plants from the harsh cold.
Production
Cranberries are planted by spreading out the cuttings onto a sand bed in a new or a refurbished bog. The beds are irrigated regularly so that new roots form and new plants grow. Irrigation is very important to moisture the plants, and it takes many years for a planted bog to achieve full production.
Harvesting the cranberries
The bogs are flooded as soon as the cranberries are fully ripe and ready to be harvested. The fruits are stripped from the plants using a harrow. This method of harvesting is very common for berries that are used for processing foods like juice, sauces, and sweetened dried cranberries.
Processing
Raking machine is used to harvest the fresh fruits, and the cranberries are dropped into the berry boat that goes alongside it. The fresh fruit berries are at first sorted and then packaged right on the marsh on which they are grown. The cranberries that are to be used as fresh fruit are sorted carefully by hand, and then a bouncing test is done to determine the good fruits. Nowadays, people are moving towards computerized sorters to take out the soft berries.
The fresh fruits are generally packed in the 12 oz bags, but some producers may pack the fruits into large bulky boxes that can hold 15 or 30 lbs of this fruit. A degrassing machine is used to remove the leaves, and other things before the fruit is sent for processing into sauce, juice, and other products.
Benefits
Cranberries are highly nutritious and have lots of health benefits. It is packed with antioxidants that help to fight cancer and prevent problems related to the urinary tract. Cranberries are rich in Vitamin C and dietary fiber. If you are coming to Wisconsin this fall, then be sure to experience the cranberry harvest.
Cranberry Marsh Tours
Are you looking for a great fall getaway? Then you should sign up for the Marsh tours, which are a great way to experience the Cranberry Country of Wisconsin. There are a number of marshes that offer public tours in the Central and North Wisconsin. Let us check out the different Marsh Tours –
Splash of Red Cranberry Tours, Pittsville
This is almost a 3 hour guided tour that takes you to different marshes. The tour includes lunch and special cranberry treats. The tours start at 9:30 in the morning.
Wetherby Cranberry Company, Warrens
This tour takes place on the 1st Saturday of October, and this tour gives the participants a real chance to walk right into a marsh. No reservations are needed for this tour. Private tours are also available, but they are chargeable.
Lake Nokomis Cranberries, Eagle River
This is also a guided tour that takes place from mid-September to min October wherein you get a chance to purchase real fresh cranberries.
Experts claim that the best way to see the harvest is by driving through the Wisconsin Cranberry Highway. This is a self-guided tour that covers a distance of 50 miles of the cranberry growing region of the state. Next time you are in Wisconsin during Fall, don’t forget to sign up for a Marsh Tour and experience a real fruity tour!
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