Massachusetts Cranberries Offers Harvest Season Guided Bus Tours

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A wet cranberry harvest in progress in Massachusetts, courtesy image

New manager expands 2022 season program headquartered at Carver barn

McGRATHPR.com – Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association (CCCGA/Massachusetts Cranberries), representing more than 275 cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket, has expanded its annual “Cranberry Harvest Bus Tour” program, providing online scheduling of bus tours that depart from a Carver barn, organized throughout the harvest season.  Details, schedule, and registration are available at cranberries.org/cranberry-bog-bus-tours.

“This is a thrilling time for us, the harvest season culminates our cranberry year,” shares CCCGA’s new Cranberry Tour and Event Manager Kim Miot.  “Our staff has worked hard over the last few years to originate a sustainable tour program that supports the annual peaked interest during harvest.  It is a great pleasure to embrace their work, expand the mission and raise awareness about our Commonwealth’s official state fruit.”  On staff for six months, Miot brings a wealth of knowledge to her role, from a career steeped in event and program management.  Her prior roles developing two community stations, led her to produce a community news program, live telethons, and serve as the voice for community story origination.  Her first goals at CCCGA have included raising visibility for Massachusetts Cranberries, rooted in expanding the Association’s tour program and establishing this season’s tour headquarters in Carver. 

“The Association is so grateful to multi-generational cranberry grower and member Dick Ward, who has granted us use of his quintessential New England working barn this entire season, where our tour attendees, buses, and guides gather and depart,” shares Brian Wick, CCCGA’s executive director.  “Growers are legendary in their generosity and commitment to the mission of our organization and the industry.  We would be remiss if we didn’t communicate our gratitude for their stalwart support.”  Though Ward’s Carver barn is a temporary launchpad for tours, the Association’s Board has long aspired to acquire a permanent property that would house its tour program headquarters and a heritage center, still in its vision for the future.

A wet cranberry harvest in progress in Massachusetts, courtesy image

“Cranberry Harvest Bus Tours” span the 2022 Massachusetts “Crimson Harvest” season, underway through early November, on select dates, departing at 10 am or 2 pm, by advance ticket purchase. Guided bus tours vary in length from 90 minutes to two hours, depending on the distance to that day’s harvesting bog.  Attendees are requested to dress comfortably and arrive 15 minutes in advance of departure for registration fulfillment.  The experience is led by an industry expert tour guide host, who travels on along with attendees speaking about Massachusetts’ rich cranberry industry history, encouraging interaction with cranberry growers at their bogs, and guides the group through viewing a live wet cranberry harvest.

Tickets to “Cranberry Harvest Bus Tours” are $18 general admission, children under age 5 attend for free, by advance purchase.  To purchase tickets, and for complete location and tour details visit Massachusetts Cranberries website at cranberries.org/cranberry-bog-bus-tours.

Ward’s barn, serving as this year’s tour headquarters, welcomes the public during tour bookings, with cranberry educational displays, industry-sourced products for purchase including fresh Massachusetts cranberries, branded t-shirts, and hats, as well as the occasional multi-generational grower on site answering questions and providing commentary.

Each season CCCGA staff navigates a wealth of interest in the picturesque harvest, with Massachusetts serving as the founder of the cranberry cultivation, the Commonwealth’s number one agricultural food crop, and the second largest cranberry growing region in the country, yielding approximately 23% of the annual national crop.

Massachusetts Cranberries, established as Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association in 1888, represents more than 275 cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts, with an annual crop value of $64.9 million.  Massachusetts is home to 30% of all North American cranberry acreage and according to the Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Report, provides over 6,900 jobs and a total economic benefit of over $1.4 billion to the Massachusetts economy.

For more information about Massachusetts cranberries and their health benefits, visit Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association online at cranberries.org or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association

Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association represents more than 275 cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts, with an annual crop value of $64.9 million.  Massachusetts is home to 30% of all North American cranberry acreage and according to the Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Report, provides over 6,900 jobs and a total economic benefit of over $1.4 billion to the Massachusetts economy. For more information, contact Brian Wick, Executive Director, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, [email protected] or at 508-866-7878, visit cranberries.org, or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Cranberries are the Commonwealth’s number one agricultural food crop, and the second largest cranberry growing region in the country,
approximately 23% of the annual national crop, courtesy image

Calendar Listing:

Massachusetts Cranberries’ “Cranberry Harvest Bus Tours”

Presented by Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association

Select dates through early November, 10 am and 2 pm, 2022, dates dependent on availability of harvest

Attendees are advised to dress comfortably and arrive 15 minutes before tour departure in Carver, location disclosed upon ticket purchase.  Tickets are $18 general admission, ages 5 and under attend for free, by reservation, limited to capacity.  To purchase tickets, and for complete location and tour details, visit cranberries.org/cranberry-bog-bus-tours

Experience a true gem of fall in New England, with a Massachusetts Cranberries’ harvest season bus tour, an adventure for the Commonwealth’s “Crimson Harvest.” The picturesque, quintessential autumn experience is led by an industry expert tour guide host, who travels on along with attendees speaking about Massachusetts’ rich cranberry industry history, encouraging interaction with cranberry growers at their bogs, and guides the group through the viewing a live wet cranberry harvest.

Visit the 2022 season tour headquarter in Carver, with cranberry educational displays, industry products for purchase including fresh Massachusetts cranberries, branded t-shirts, and hats, as well as the occasional multi-generational grower on site answering questions and providing commentary.

Note:  Bus tour tickets are nonrefundable, held whether rain or shine. Refunds or transfers are ONLY issued if the event is cancelled by organizers due to severe weather or insufficient attendance of 10 or more. If cancelled, guests will be given the option for a refund or to reschedule to an alternate date. No-shows or late arrivals forfeit the cost of their ticket and are not able to join the departed tour.

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