Inside a Quebec cranberry bog

Did you know that Quebec is the leading cranberry producer in Canada and amongst the most prolific growers in the world? The province is the leading producer of organic cranberries globally and there are several hundred of bogs like these across the province producing cranberries. So let's find out how they're produced and why bogs are so important. The water harvest allows us to take the fruit out without hurting the plant for next year. Also the cranberry has a very thick skin and if And if you look at the middle of it, you see four air pockets. These air pockets are what makes the cranberry buoyant So without that air, it would not float to the top. So you really need that tough skin to resist the water pressure and the air pockets to allow it to float. We also have installed in here drainage and irrigation systems to keep them from droughts to heat protection and even frost protection. And again, it allows us to raise the water to harvest the cranberries. Quebec's cranberry operations are mainly in the Sainte-Anne-de-Quebec region, and the province produces more than 250 million pounds annually. Harvesting season usually runs from late September to late October, but the process is year-round. In the winter, the fields are flooded to protect the buds from the cold. The springtime is where most of the fertilization and monitoring happens. The flowering begins in the summer, and once the cranberries turn red, growers can harvest fresh cranberries used for juices, snacks, and a dinner staple during the North American holiday season. Really the difference is in our seasons. So we have a relatively cooler summer and a very cold winter. That allows, the winter part allows us to fight the pests that you would naturally find in the bogs without using any pesticides. So a lot of the larvae, a lot of the fungi that affect the cranberry quality are destroyed by the cold during the winter. That's why Quebec organic production is so strong. So when the cranberries leave the bog they go into this truck and then they're headed to get some cleaning so you can eat them or make your sauce or do whatever you do with cranberries. But how do we get here? So first the bog gets filled with water, the fruits get detached by the tractor to be then brought to this corner by some booms and from there it goes through the pump, pre-cleaned, and to the truck. Schneider's Farm is part of an agricultural cooperative operated by Ocean Spray, which partners with local family cranberry farmers in Quebec and elsewhere. In 2025, Quebec's cranberry season had a record year. This year, it was a bit of a down year because of hail and a drought in the summer. Next year, growers are hoping for a better season, so there are plenty of cranberries for you to use in your juices, your sauces, and simply just for you to eat.