Britannica Sources used in this answer

How are cranberries harvested from bog wetlands?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Bald cypress trees with wide, flared trunks stand in still, shallow water in a Louisiana swamp, their green foliage creating a dense canopy. — Wetland Stately bald cypresses (*Taxodium distichum*) thriving in a Louisiana swamp.

Cranberries are not harvested by picking them directly from the soil in a traditional sense; rather, commercial fields are commonly flooded to facilitate the process. Because the ripe berries float, growers flood the cranberry bog and scoop the fruit from the surface of the water.1

This harvesting method takes place between early September and late October. While these areas are often referred to as bogs or marshes, they are specifically managed ecosystems where the plants grow in acid soils composed of peat or vegetable mold topped with a layer of sand. In addition to aiding in harvest, flooding is also used as a protective measure to shield the vines from frost.1