Honor a delicious piece of our state heritage at the Cranberry Harvest Celebration
Get bogged down with fall fun.
A harvester corrals the cranberries into the pump at the 2012 Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham.
There are already pumpkins on porches and apple cider in stores, but the arguable real star of fall—and a big player in New England’s economy—is the cranberry. That’s why there’s an entire Harvest Celebration for the tiny, tart berry this weekend.
If you’ve ever wondered how cranberries get from the bog to your bottle, now’s your chance. The 12th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration is hosted by the A.D. Makepeace Company—the world’s largest cranberry grower—and co-sponsored by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association and Ocean Spray at Tihonet Village in Wareham. At this ultimate-fall fest, visitors can watch as farmers harvest the crimson berries and even get a bird’s-eye-view of the bogs in a helicopter.
No, those two guys from the Ocean Spray commercials won’t be wading in the waters at this celebration, but other growers will be around to answer all your cranberry-related questions, and they’re seriously passionate about these berries.
The 2012 Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham, Massachusetts.
For Dawn Gates-Allen, cranberries are tied to the rich history of her state and her family. Gates-Allen is a fourth-generation grower who works with member services and the education and outreach programs for the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association.
“That’s the uniqueness that we have here in Massachusetts, because we’re the origins of the cranberry industry’’ she said.
The Cranberry Harvest Celebration will offer an adult-only twist on the state drink with Harpoon Brewery’s cranberry-flavored beer, the Grateful Harvest Brew. Other fall-themed goods include cooking demonstrations, paddleboat rides, and pumpkin painting.
Last year, the Cranberry Harvest Celebration had about 30,000 guests.
“It’s totally the most exciting time of the year,’’ Gates-Allen said. “People make this their vacation — they come from surroundings towns and from all over the world. Because of the Internet, and the beauty of this harvest, they make this their destination.’’
There’s a surprising amount to learn about the crop that brings in $99.8 million to the local economy, according to the Growers’ Association.
A harvester during the 2012 Cranberry Harvest Celebration.
Cranberries have a rich history in Massachusetts: Captain Henry Hall of Dennis started cultivating the fruit in 1816, according to the Cape Cod Grower’s Association. Cranberry juice is the official state beverage, and cranberry is the official state color (yes, Massachusetts has a lot of official state things).
But the tart treat only became the state’s official berry in 1994. It was a group of Boxford schoolchildren who filed a bill on behalf of the berry, originally aiming for the title of the official state fruit, according to a 1994 Boston Globe article. Apple growers opposed the idea, so Rep. Forrester Clark (R-Hamilton) asked if the children’s bill could be amended to designate the cranberry as the official state berry of Massachusetts.
Gates-Allen said it’s amazing that people are coming from all over to see Massachusetts’s cranberries, but she knows that the heart of the industry lies in the community.
“We’re working really hard to keep the cranberry industry viable in Massachusetts,’’ she said. “So if you’re asking for passion, that’s my passion.’’
The 2015 Cranberry Harvest Celebration festival takes place Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the A.D. Makepeace Company Headquarters at Tihonet Village, 158 Tihonet Road, Wareham. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, and free for kids under 7. Visit here for more information.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com