This is the season I love the most. It’s cranberry season. For the past seven years, I have enjoyed foraging wild cranberries. It’s become a cherished tradition shared with a few friends. Each Thanksgiving, I prepare a special wild cranberry sauce. These berries are abundant throughout the Northeast and Canada, often found near lakes, bogs, swamps, and cold lake shores. They reach their peak ripeness in September and October.
Identifying Your Wild Cranberries
It took some time for me to find and identify the patches I now frequent every year. It took many months of hiking around different lakes to discover where wild cranberries grow. This year, the cranberries are the best I have ever seen since I have been foraging. They are large, abundant, and better than any store-bought ones.
Foraging for Wild Cranberries
Wild cranberries like to grow low to the ground, like a small vine. The berries are easy to identify. They are oval, whitish-green when unripe and deep red when ripe. The nice thing about these cranberries is they are not treated with any pesticides. Just make sure not to over pick. Leave some for the animals and a stronger crop next year.
On The Lake
It was a great day to be out on the lake. It was nice and quiet, just me and nature—what a good way to spend the day foraging for wild cranberries. I will take this overwork any day! Foraging is a good way to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer. After I was done with the picking, I went home to clean and preserve my wild harvest.
It’s important to discard any bad or broken cranberries and clean any stems or debris. I placed the cranberries in a sink and washed them.
Using the FoodSaver V2244 to Store Your Wild Edibles
The FoodSaver V2244 vacuum sealing system is an essential tool for keeping various foods fresh for longer periods. This device is awesome for freezing produce for the long term. I use it for storing all my wild edibles and garden produce. This system will eliminate freezer burn. It will keep your food fresh up to 5x longer. Highly recommend.
Storing Your Wild Cranberries
I shake off any excess water with a strainer before preserving with my FoodSaver. Wild cranberries freeze very well. They also are great cooked or made into juice. I like to make wild cranberry compote and then jar them in a water bath canner. I plan to share that in an upcoming post. It goes very well with oatmeal in the morning with wild blueberries and local honey.
Edible Wild Plants:
A North American Field Guide” is an indispensable tool for foraging enthusiasts. Featuring close to 400 color photographs, it offers comprehensive details on over 200 edible plant species across North America. The plants are arranged by season, making it easy for users to find and identify what they are looking for. Each entry includes visual aids and information about the plant’s natural habitat, characteristics, harvesting methods, preparation techniques, and potential toxic look-alikes.
