Cranberries are not just delicious berries; they are incredibly beneficial, packed with various vitamins. In Russia, cranberries have always been valued for their healing properties, and sailors often carried dried cranberries on their voyages. Today, we know that cranberries are champions in vitamin C content and antioxidants. Here are some intriguing facts about these vibrant berries:

1. Ancient Use: Native Americans used cranberries as a staple food as early as 1550.
2. Water Content: Almost 90% of cranberries consist of water.
3. Cultivation Evolution: Cultivated varieties of cranberries have only been developed in the last century, making them one of the most recently domesticated fruit crops.
4. Plant Characteristics: Cranberries grow as low creeping shrubs or vines, reaching lengths of up to 2 meters and heights of 5 to 20 centimeters.
5. Harvest Season: Cranberry picking starts in early September and continues until the end of October.
6. Natural Habitat: Cranberries thrive in extremely moist areas, such as swamps and wet lake shores, often found alongside blueberries.
7. Freshness Test: Ripe cranberries bounce when dropped on a hard surface.
8. Nutrient Powerhouse: Cranberries are rich in vitamin C, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper, and pantothenic acid.
9. Versatility: Besides consumption as berries, cranberries are widely used in baking.
10. Native American Symbolism: The Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey called cranberries “Pakim,” meaning “bitter berry.” They used it not only as a food source but also as a symbol of peace and friendship.
11. State Berry: Massachusetts officially declared cranberry as its state berry in 1994.
12. Health Benefits: Scientifically proven to have anti-inflammatory properties, cranberries offer protection against stress and depression.
13. Etymology: The genus name, Vaccinium macrocarpon, comes from the Greek words “oxis” (sharp, sour) and “coccus” (spherical), translating to “sour sphere.”
14. Frozen Storage: Frozen storage is recommended for cranberries harvested after frost.
15. Culinary Milestone: The first canned cranberry sauce was produced in 1912.
16. Medicinal Uses: Cranberries have been used in medicine to treat scurvy, sore throat, colds, urinary infections, rheumatism, and vitamin deficiencies.
17. Ripening Process: Berries harvested in September are firm but soften during storage.
18. Soviet Recognition: In 1964, the Soviet Union issued a postage stamp featuring the vibrant red cranberry.
19. Symbolism in Switzerland: The commune of Bez-en-Buren in Switzerland features birch trees and flowering cranberries on its coat of arms.
20. Film Industry Use: Cranberry juice often substitutes for blood in movies since the 1980s.
21. Seasonal Harvest: For medicinal purposes, mature berries are collected after the onset of autumn frosts or in early spring. Spring-harvested cranberries are tastier but have lower vitamin content.