The region of South Jersey, a tradition of cultivating cranberries dates from 1857. It predates the creation that Thanksgiving was a federal day by president Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It is the Darlington family, currently five generations old, and farmers of Pemberton Township is a key part of this legacy of agriculture. In spite of the recent drought the cranberry harvest and the market price haven’t been affected in any way, according to Kate Leonard, a spokesperson for Ocean Spray, a grower-owned cooperative.

The Darlington family launched their operation to harvest cranberries by turning Bogs, which were originally used as strip-mining iron sites, to productive land for agriculture. This year, the absence of rain meant that it took an additional 10 days of time for farmers to sufficiently to flood their bogs in order to harvest which is a vital element in the entire procedure. The same was stated by an official of the State Department of Agriculture. John Darlington mentioned the need to obtain water from two miles away in order to supply the demands of his farm with 300 acres in addition to the efforts required during this time.

New Jersey is a leading state for cranberry production being ranked third among the United States with a harvest of 580,000 barrels of cranberries 1,173.59 acres of wetlands this year. New Jersey’s production is impressive and significant, and with Burlington County being the second-largest producing county for cranberries in the country. The significance of cranberries in the past are emphasized through the creation the Whitesbog Village, a company town that was founded on the behalf of the Darlington family, and is currently a historic site that is preserved. This village reveals its agricultural heritage from the region, which includes the blueberry fields as well as cranberry bogs.

Elizabeth Coleman White, another family member from the Darlington family has played an important role in the growth of highbush blueberries which further enhanced the agricultural output of New Jersey. White’s work in cranberry and blueberry cultivation were recognized through her induction into the NJ’s Hall of Fame.

Harvesting is one of the most striking sights is initiated by flooding the bogs and allowing the berries to rise up to the surface, ready for collecting. This technique not only aids in harvesting, but it also helps prepare the bogs for winter by preserving the plants with recycled water. The product that comes out from this process the cranberry, is still remain a mainstay at Thanksgiving dinners all over the nation.

Source: Courier Post