Drive on nearly any back road in our corner of Massachusetts at this time of year and you’ll be treated to an iconic New England scene: the cranberry harvest, with a bright blue sky above and fall foliage in the distance.
Here at the A.D. Makepeace Company, harvest began in mid-September, and we’ll be at it until early November. ADM harvests about 1,700 acres of bogs in Plymouth, Wareham, and Carver, and all are wet harvested.

Here’s how it works: Cranberries contain pockets of air, and as a result, they can float in water. For the past 70 years or so, cranberry growers have taken advantage of this by flooding the bogs, then using picking machines to knock the berries off the vines. The berries then float to the surface of the flooded bog.

Plastic “booms” are used to round up the berries, which are then lifted by conveyor or pumped into a truck to take them to the receiving station in nearby Carver for cleaning.

From there, the fruit is sent to various processing plants. Wet harvested cranberries are used for juices, sauces, sweetened dried cranberries, or as ingredients in other processed foods. Dry harvested cranberries are found in bags in the produce aisle during the holiday season.

At this time of year, the growers are hoping for cool nights – needed to cause the berries to turn red – warm daytime temperatures, and a little rain. Hail, excessive rain or heat, and other weather extremes can damage the crop at this stage. Harvest activities are typically put on hold during very windy conditions.

The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association offers cranberry bog tours showcasing the native red berry. Information about public tours is available on their website, cranberries.org.

They also offer self-guided tours. On the CCCGA website, you’ll find an interactive map of growers in the region that welcomes visitors to their property. Most growers don’t mind if you pull over to the side of the road to take photos of the picturesque harvest. Just please remember that it’s a working farm and you need to stay clear of truck traffic, hoses, and other potential hazards.

Plymouth County, Massachusetts
October, 2024