Follow That Bog!: A Day in the Life of a Cranberry Grower
While cranberry bogs are best known for their iconic harvest, cranberry farmers are hard at work all year ensuring the success of next year’s crop – and the spring season is no different! To learn more about what is happening on a cranberry bog this time of year, we reached out to cranberry grower Jeff LaFleur, owner of Mayflower Cranberries in Plympton, MA and a member of the Cranberry Institute’s Board of Directors, who shared with us a little more about the anatomy of a cranberry plant, and showed us exactly how they prune the cranberry vines to prepare for the growing season ahead.
Check out his Facebook page, Mayflower Cranberries!
Follow us!
In case you missed it: The Cranberry Institute has officially launched its Twitter Account:@CranInstitute! Please follow us and tag @CranInstitute – along with #CranberryBogBlogger – in your cranberry-inspired posts!
Spring Cleaning Your Eating
Look no further for the perfect snack or quick addition to any meal – dried cranberries have 2.3 grams of fiber per serving, all the benefits of cranberry PACs, and they keep well at room temperature. Below find some of our favorite ways to use dried cranberries!
· Check out this video from the Cranberry Marketing Committee to see how to enjoy Dried Cranberries, 5 Ways featuring:
o Cranberry Chicken Salad
o Baked Brie with Dried Cranberries
o Spinach Salad with Cranberries
o Cranberry Trail Mix
o Ladybugs on a Log
Inspired? Tweet @CranInstitute with your favorite way to include dried cranberries as part of your spring snacking and meals!
Cranberries and Health
Experts Refute the Findings of Journal of the American Medical Association Study on Cranberries in Urology journal
· Since the publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article, “Effect of Cranberry Capsules on Bacteriuria Plus Pyuria Among Older Women in Nursing Homes,” experts in both the study of cranberries and the practice of urology have spoken out against the conclusions that were made. A commentary explaining how the design was fatally flawed was published in the esteemed scientific journal, Urology. Led by Bilal Chughtai, MD, Professor of Urology in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine, Efficacy of Cranberry in Preventing Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Have We Learned Anything New?, describes that positive results for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) prevention with cranberries (or any therapy) would not be expected in this population, where 69.2% of patients did not experience a UTI the year prior, as the patients did not suffer from recurrent UTIs as per Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines. Furthermore, asymptomatic bacteriuria and pyuria is unfortunately common in this population, thus the IDSA advises against treatment. Lastly, obtaining uncontaminated, reliable urine samples in this population is a globally recognized challenge especially given that 78% of the subjects had dementia, 68% had urinary incontinence and 44% had bowel incontinence. It is also concerning that of the 185 initial participants, 33 individuals died during the one-year study.
Without equivocation, Chughtai et al., states that cranberry products have reduced UTI rates in many at-risk populations in several studies. Adding that, quality randomized controlled trials on antibiotic alternatives, such as cranberry, are encouraged, or the medical community may be unable to manage the ever-increasing antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
Abstract may be accessed here: http://www.goldjournal.net/
RESOURCE REMINDER!
Cranberry Health Research Library
Browse the selections by year to find the most recent publications: http://cranberryinstitute.org/
Sweet Talk
The Cranberry Institute has teamed up with the experts to provide resources that will help dietitians, and consumers, choose the right foods for a healthy diet.
- How to Talk to Consumers About Added Sugars
- The “How to Talk to Consumers About Added Sugars” statement was developed by dietitians, for dietitians, offering guidance for RDs counseling and speaking to media about added sugar.
Hummus Just Got a Pretty in Pink Makeover
Trust us – this contest-winning Cranberry & Roasted Beet Hummus is definitely the prettiest (and probably one of the most delicious) hummus recipes you’ll try this year!
Ingredients
1 cup shallots; approximately 5-6 shallots
1 cup olive oil, divided
2 cups dried cranberries
1 orange, zested
12 fl oz. water
4 cups roasted beets, quartered
6 cups garbanzo beans, cooked
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cups water, as needed
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut shallots into quarters. In small roasting pan, combine with 1/2 cup oil and cover with aluminum foil and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes, or until soft. place shallots in a China cap strainer to separate the oil from shallots and reserve both.
3. Combine dried cranberries, orange zest and 12 fl. oz. water and simmer uncovered until water has almost completely evaporated and cranberries rehydrate.
4. Toss beets in 1/2 cup oil, add salt and pepper to taste and roast on a sheet pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until edges become brown.
5. Place cooked garbanzo beans, rehydrated cranberries, shallots, roasted beets, 1 cup water, lemon juice and shallot oil in blender. Puree until smooth, add remaining water to loosen, if necessary. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.
6. Serve with corn tortilla or pita chips.
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