CRANBERRY

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. Native to the acidic bogs of North America and northern Europe, cranberries were originally called "crane berries" by early settlers because their blossoms resemble the head and bill of a sandhill crane. While traditionally a staple of holiday meals, cranberries have become a powerhouse in the nutraceutical industry due to their unique profile of organic acids and antioxidants.