An ongoing University of Wisconsin study is researching the cranberry's ability to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientists found that cranberry extract contains antioxidants, which play a fundamental role in slowing the oxidation that leads to heart disease. Cranberries contain anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and phenolic compounds that are known for their anti-cancer properties. Ongoing studies at several respected universities indicate consistent and strong evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, reduces the risks of some types of cancer. Cranberries In Our Past
Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America the other two are blueberries and Concord grapes. This tasty little berry was a staple in the diets of American Indians long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
The Indians ate cranberries fresh, ground, or mashed with cornmeal and baked into bread. They mixed dried berries with wild game to form pemmican, a survival ration for the winter months and long grips. Maple sugar or honey was used to sweeten the berry's tangy flavor.
The Indians brewed cranberry poultices to draw poison from arrow wounds. They used cranberry juice to dye their rugs and blankets a colorful red. An, they believed the cranberry had special powers to calm the nerves.
Although various Indian tribes had different names for the cranberry, it was the Pilgrims' name that outlasted them all. They called the fruit "crane berry" because the cranberry plant's tiny stem and pink blossoms resembled the neck, head, and beak of cranes. Over time, the word shorted to "cranberry".
As Europeans became more firmly entrenched on American soil, they too grew to appreciate cranberries. Early French voyagers exploring Wisconsin waterways bartered for cranberries with the Indians. And American sailors began to take barrels of cranberries to sea with them to provide vitamin C for the prevention of scurvy. Important Events in Cranberry History
-1663- Pilgrim cookbook describes cranberry sauce
-1796- Cranberries served at first celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims with first Thanksgiving turkey.
-1816- Henry Hall first grew cranberries commercially in Massachusetts.
-1829- The first recorded sale of Wisconsin cranberries appears in Daniel Whitney's journal when Whitney purchased 3 canoe loads of berries harvested from the area know as "Cranmoor".
-1865- First commercially grown cranberries were grown at Berlin in Green Lake County.
-1887- Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association formed to advance interests of all engaged in the cultivation of cranberries.
-1893- In a continued effort to educate the public about cranberries, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association members traveled to Chicago for the Columbian Exposition, displaying an entire marsh operation in miniature.
-1899- U.S. standard for cranberries established: 100 pounds = 1 barrel.
-1906- Wisconsin Cranberry Sales Company was formed, a cooperative selling organization.
-1952- The first TV commercial for cranberries aired, a spot promoting the year-round use of chicken and cranberries.
Organic
What is organic food?
Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.
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