14 November 2025

Ep. 232 The Cranberry Story: Native Roots and Modern Agriculture | #Good Growing

Good Growing

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Discover the fascinating world of cranberries in this episode of Good Growing. Horticulture educators Chris Enroth and Ken Johnson explore the history, science, and cultivation of one of North America’s few commercially grown native fruits. Learn how cranberries evolved from wild bog plants to a global industry, why they float during wet harvest, and the unique challenges growers face in managing seasonal demand. From Indigenous traditions to modern farming techniques, this episode dives deep into cranberry botany, sustainability, and the economics behind your favorite holiday berry.

Skip to what you want to know:
00:39 Hey Ken! Ken loves cranberries and the holidays.
01:26 We studied for this one, promise!
01:56 What are cranberries? A look into history.
04:23 America's Founding Fruit: The Cranberry
14:57 Chris' favorite quote, cranberries are like cats
16:12 The anatomy of a cranberry. Why do they float?
18:34 Taste testing our fresh cranberries.
19:41 Difference between dry and wet harvest of cranberries
26:04 Boom and bust of the cranberry market
28:15 A year of growing cranberries from a farmer's perspective - Planting cranberries
32:01 What does a cranberry field look like, and where do they get the water?
33:31 Cranberries in the spring planting, irrigation needs, and pollination
36:35 Summer in the cranberry field - ripening
36:53 Fall in the cranberry field -harvest
37:32 Wet harvest
39:23 Dry Harvest
40:48 The cranberry fields in the winter - protecting from winter injury
44:59 Can you grow the American cranberry in the backyard?
46:59 https://www.cranberries.org/bog-cup-activity
53:11 Thank yous and coming up next week

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins https://eat-move-save.extension.illinois.edu/eat/recipes/cranberry-pumpkin-muffins

Cranberries https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-11-12-cranberries

America’s Founding Fruit: The Cranberry in a New Environment, by Susan Playfair https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/A/bo44311431.html

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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk

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