Organic cranberries in Bandon, Oregon - Brush Prairie Bogs
Jan 2nd, 2009 by Amy
The holidays are over, but I still wanted some local cranberries. Every time I am in the produce section at the grocery store, I look at the box in hopes to see Oregon cranberries. Instead I walk away disgusted that a grocery store in Eugene buys cranberries from Wisconsin. What the heck?
We did manage to pick up a pound of local cranberries through Eugene Local Foods right before Thanksgiving, but I didn’t feel like I got my cranberry fix for the year. After reading the Culinaria Eugenius post about most Oregon cranberries being shipped away, I did not have high hopes on our trip to Bandon.
We paid a visit to Misty Meadows, an Oregon coast producer and retailer specializing in cranberry jams. While completing our purchase of cranberry jam, gooseberry jam, tayberry jam, and some local frozen huckleberries , I asked whether they sold frozen cranberries. They suggested that we look in Coffee Break, a weekly publication of classified ads published by the local newspaper, Bandon Western World. Sure enough there was an ad for organic cranberries from Brush Prairie Farm. I was giddy and could hardly wait for them to call me back. Eventually, we arranged a rendezvous and we are coming home with 10 lbs of organic cranberries. I will probably make cranberry ketchup and cranberry salsa. If you have other ideas, please put them in the comments.
I am encouraged to find a farm that is willing to sell smaller quantities directly. We are hoping that some of their cranberries can find their way to Eugene next year.
They still have a small quantity available this year. If you plan to be around Bandon in the next couple of weeks and are in need of a cranberry fix, contact Brush Prairie to see if they have any available. If you are interested in how cranberries are grown, harvested, and packaged, they also have a beautiful set of slides on their website that chronicle the process.
Read about other local food and food related sources here.
I love your passion for local cranberries! I share the passion for local, seasonal, organic foods, and when I read your entry, it resonated with the same excitement I feel at times like those! And cranberry ketchup - awesome! I have never tried or even heard of such a ketchup. Sounds great!
I am an organic personal chef in Santa Monica, CA. I have been here for two years now, and keep meaning to make it up to the Oregon area. Hearing the cranberry story pushed it even higher on the list.
Thanks for sharing. I have a blog as well that I want to share with you. http://organicspark.blogspot.com
Happy cooking!
Molly
Molly - Thanks for the note and for sharing your blog. I checked out your blog and like the recipes. Do come to Oregon - so many great food places to enjoy. Although the weather in the summer is better and the markets are much more alive then. Stay in touch about your travel plans - would love to give you recommendations!
[...] I was waiting to get our hands on some local cranberries to make it and we finally found some on our recent trip to Bandon. I only made enough to fill two jelly jars to make sure it was deserving of our [...]