About 75 percent of the berries harvested in Massachusetts are gathered using the water-pick method and are usually sold as sauces, juices, jams and jellies. The machine rotates through the vines to collect the berries, which are then stored in large crates. Cranberries harvested using the dry-pick method are then sold as fresh fruit. In the winter after the harvest, the bogs are covered with water that freezes and provides protection against frost. Every few years, a layer of sand is applied to the ice in order to promote growth, improve drainage and control weeds and insects.
Growers use three methods to sand.
One method is to use the dry sanding method where a bog vehicle applies sand directly to the vines. Another method, ice sanding, involves applying sand on the ice during the winter flood and last, barge sanding applies sand on the water using a barge. In mid-March the water melts and the bogs are drained and left exposed ready for the summer sun to promote growth. In the summer, cranberries require up to one inch of water per week in order to grow. If there is not enough water, sprinklers are activated in the bog.