CAPE COD TIMES.com – We are rolling into the heart of cranberry harvest season on Cape Cod and are soon to be happily awash in sauce, relish and quick breads. But wouldn’t it be great to get out to a bog to see where the miraculous red orbs come from?
Well, you’re in the right place. “Massachusetts ranks second in the nation in cranberry production with more than 14,000 acres in production,” according to the University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Folks on Cape Cod have been farming cranberries since the mid 1800s!
And cranberry bog tours are in full swing, both on and off Cape Cod. It’s a great chance to learn more about the festive and tasty berry, just in time for Thanksgiving. Depending on the day of the tour, you may not see harvest action, but cranberry bogs are beautiful no matter what.
Here are some options for cranberry bog tours on and beyond Cape Cod:
Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours
Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours offers tours at bogs in Chatham, Barnstable and East Sandwich. Tours cost $20 per person, with a minimum of four people in the group. Smaller groups can be accommodated for a higher cost per person, and large groups can be accommodated by making advance arrangements. Contact them at least 24 hours in advance to make reservations and find out about tour availability at 508-237-5478 or by email at info@capecodcranberrybogtours.com. More information is available at their website: capecodcranberrybogtours.com.
Cranberry farm tours in Harwich
Cranberry bog tours are offered by Leo and Andrea Cakounes at their bog in Harwich. You can also see farm animals and visit their farmstand and gift shop. Bog tours cost $20 and credit cards are not accepted. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 508-432-0790. More information is available at their website: cranberrybogtours.com.
Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen
Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen in East Sandwich is offering tours of bogs in their area on Oct. 14. as part of their annual Cape Cod Cranberry Day celebration. Tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and space is likely to fill quickly. There is a $10 fee. Tickets can be purchased on their website, thorntonburgess.org. More info available at 508-888-6870.
Massachusetts Cranberries bog bus tours
Massachusetts Cranberries, represented by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, offers a cornucopia of tour options, including large group coach tours, school-age education tours and tours for the general public. These tours take place just off-Cape, in and around the Wareham/Carver area. The best way to sort through the offerings is to visit their website at cranberries.org/cranberry-bog-bus-tours. Email the organization at bogtours@cranberries.org for more information about schedules and tickets.
By Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
About Massachusetts Cranberries
Established in 1888 as Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association (CCCGA) to standardize the measure with which cranberries are sold, now recognized as Massachusetts Cranberries, the nonprofit stands as one of the country’s oldest farmers’ organizations. Massachusetts Cranberries represents more than 300 growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket, in unity to promote Massachusetts’ official state fruit and bolster the cranberry industry’s sustainability. Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts. For more information, contact Brian Wick, Executive Director, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, bwick@cranberries.org, call 508-866-7878, visit cranberries.org, or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
