In southeastern Massachusetts, the cranberry harvest is in full swing as farmers work diligently to gather the vibrant pinkish crimson berries from their bogs. The process involves workers wading through the water, guiding the cranberries towards a pump that collects them for transportation to a processing plant. There, the berries are sorted from leaves and vines to be made into various products like sauce, juice, and dried berries.
The cranberry plants, native to wetland areas, begin growing in May and are ready for harvest by September. Farmers flood the bogs, use picking machines to shake the berries loose, and then add more water to allow the cranberries to float to the surface for collection.
