What Are The Different Kinds Of Cranberry Harvesting Techniques

 

When we think of cranberries, a vibrant picture of red berries floating on flooded fields flashes in front of our eyes. It's an amazing scene to watch. However, have you ever thought about the type of equipment that enables that harvest? In addition to being distinctive among fruits, cranberries also have an intriguing harvesting technique. Farmers utilize either wet or dry harvesting techniques, each with its specific cranberry harvesting equipment, depending on the intended use of the berries.

Different Types of Harvesting Cranberries

There are two types of harvesting cranberries–Wet and dry harvesting, both of which use different types of harvesting equipment.

Wet Harvesting: Floating for Efficiency

The wet method is used to harvest about 90% of cranberries. Water is first poured into the cranberry bog to begin this process. After being immersed, a device known as a water reel—fondly referred to as an "eggbeater"—rolls across the bog, shaking the vines and churning the water. Tiny air pockets inside the berries allow them to float to the top when this loosens them.

The berries are then gathered into a single area using floating booms, which are floating barriers. The berries are then picked up by a water pump or suction harvester and moved to trucks or containers. Although it is a high-volume, effective technique, the wet approach might bruise the fruit, therefore, it is mostly utilized for berries that are going to be used in sauces, juices, or dried cranberry products.

Dry Harvesting: Gentle and Accurate

If you are looking for a method that helps you fetch fresh cranberries that you generally see at a store, then dry harvesting should be your go-to method. It requires a different type of equipment and is a little more labor-intensive. 

Metal fingers are used by mechanical dry harvesters, which can be towed by a tractor or walk-behind, to comb through the vines and lift berries into bins on board. The quality and look of the berries are preserved by this harvesting equipment.

The berries are cleaned, sorted, and packaged after harvest. Dry harvesting guarantees a high-quality product that is ideal for cooking or snacking, although the process is a lot slower than wet harvesting.

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