The cranberry helped sustain Americans for hundreds of years. Cultivation of the cranberry began around 1810, shortly after Captain Henry Hall, of Dennis, Massachusetts, noticed that the wild cranberries in his bogs grew better when sand blew over them. Captain Hall began transplanting his cranberry vines, fencing them in, and spreading sand on them himself. When others heard of Hall's technique, it was quickly copied. And through the 19th century, the number of growers increased steadily.
Cranberries are a unique fruit.
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. Instead, they grow on vines in impermeable beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. Normally, growers do not have to replant since an undamaged cranberry vine will survive indefinitely. Some vines on Cape Cod are more than 150 years old. In addition to Massachusetts, the major growing areas for cranberries are New Jersey, Wisconsin, British Columbia, Quebec, Washington State and 0regon.