In sandy waterlogged marshes far from the urban breweries and the rural dairy farms that have made Wisconsin famous grow one of the most popular fruits found on holiday tables.
North American cranberries are one of the state's most valuable and overlooked crops and are found in sauces, juices or as ingredients in stuffing.
They have been cultivated here for literally centuries, said Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
"Cranberries grew here in the wild," he said. "They were harvested by Native Americans."
Some marshes have been successfully producing harvests for over 100 years, the agency reported.
The cranberry industry has flourished since then thanks to Wisconsin's good cranberry growing environment.
"The natural conditions here in Wisconsin are ideal," Lochner said.
Cranberries need acidic soil, a wetland environment and plenty of water to thrive, Lochner said, and these conditions abound in Wisconsin.
"They need low-lying ground," said Sue Indermuehl, a spokesperson for Alder Lake Cranberry Corp. in Manitowish Waters. "Sand or peaty soil is a good growing medium."
Wisconsin's climate, which provides enough heat in the summer months and enough cold and dark for the shrub's dormancy period in winter, is also perfect for cranberries, Lochner said.
Wisconsin now leads the nation in cranberry production, Indermuehl said. Wisconsin's approximately 250 growers now produce over 300 million pounds of the small red berries each year, reports the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. A majority of those berries 80 to 85 percent wind up in juices or beverages, according to Lochner. Ten to 15 percent are dried or become ingredients in processed foods, and only 5 percent are sold as fresh fruit.
Most of Wisconsin's cranberry harvest is sold to Ocean Spray, a Massachusetts-based grower's cooperative, Lochner said. Contract growers, like Pick 'N Save, purchase about 30 percent of Wisconsin's cranberries, which they sell under their own brand names. The remaining 10 to 15 percent is sold to smaller processors, such as Wisconsin Rapids-based Northland Cranberries.
Studies performed in recent years have shown that cranberries offer numerous health benefits. One of the most current discoveries is that cranberries contain many antioxidants.
"Basically, cranberries as a fruit have a really nice antioxidant profile," said Barbara Troy, an adjunct associate professor of biomedical sciences.
Antioxidants are chemicals associated with the prevention of damages caused by harmful free radicals, she said, and are therefore associated with slowing the progression of certain types of heart disease, some cancers and macular degeneration, an age-related eye disease. Vitamins C and E are two of the most familiar of the antioxidants, of which there are "thousands," according to Troy.
Additionally, cranberries or pure cranberry products are thought to reduce the risk of ulcers and gum disease and decrease cholesterol levels, reports the Cranberry Institute.