Dawn Gates Allen is a third generation cranberry farmer in Cape Cod, MA. Southeastern Massachusetts has over 14,000 acres of cranberry bogs. The fruit is harvested in two ways: dry and wet harvest. Only ten percent of cranberries are dry harvested. The wet method is better for cranberry products like juice, dried cranberries and sauce. Fresh berries are dry harvested.
In the wet harvest method, the field is flooded. Every acre needs about 10 feet of water. Flooding the cranberry plants is a way of protecting the bogs from winter cold and wind. It's also done to prevent pests.
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