Welcome To Bandon Visitors Guide 2010

• Bandon Is Oregon's Cranberry Capital

Published: Thursday, May 21st, 2009 Bandon Is OregonŐs Cranberry Capital Originally called the "crane berry" by Dutch and German settlers who thought that the plant resembled the head and bill of a crane, cranberries were consumed by local Indians well before the arrival of Lewis and Clark in 1804. When the vines bloom in the late spring and the flowers' light pink petals twist back, they have a resemblance to the head and bill of a crane. Over time, the name was shortened to cranberry.

In 1885, Charles D. and Thomas H. McFarlin purchased 55 acres of land along North Slough, at what is now Hauser. Shipping cuttings from their home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, they planted the first cranberry bog the following year. Today, Oregon cranberries are prized for their deep red color and are often mixed with lighter colored berries from other states, such as Wisconsin and Massachusetts, to make juice or concentrate.

During the early 20th century, only about eight cranberry bogs existed in Oregon. Now, southern Coos County and neighboring Curry County produce about 99 percent of Oregon's cranberry crop, about 8 percent of the nation's total yield. Cranberries are also grown in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Washington. Among the newest ventures in Oregon cranberry production, the Coquille Indians are growing 100 percent organic cranberries on reservation land.

Growing cranberries requires a delicate balance of soils, geology, climate and a sufficient water supply. Bandon's cranberries are traditionally prized for their high sugar content; the longer growing season allows for the fruit to fully ripen.

Travelers driving north or south from Bandon can easily identify the brilliant red bogs.

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