ROCHESTER, Mass. — Before cranberries make their way to holiday tables, they must first make it out of the bog.

Massachusetts is the nation’s second-largest cranberry-producing state, and harvest season is underway. At Hartley Family Farm in Rochester, the Hartley family is bringing in this year’s crop while sharing the centuries-old agricultural tradition with visitors.

“It’s a sea of red” and a sure sign the holidays are approaching. Thanksgiving may still be weeks away, but the countdown is already on for Woody Hartley and his family as they harvest cranberries at the farm, which has been in their family since 1948.

“We purchased it from our parents in 1995 I believe. we own 36 acres of land, and we own 11.3 acres of cranberry bog.”  

The crop offers the potential for an above-average production year. The cranberries being harvested are expected to yield between 350 and 400 barrels per acre, according to Hartley — about twice the usual amount. Much of the crop will be used to make sweetened dried cranberries. Getting the berries out of the bog, however, takes several steps. Growers flood the fields to make the cranberries float. Specialized equipment then shakes the berries loose from the vines before they are guided toward waiting trucks for transport. The process requires careful handling to keep the berries moving efficiently. A piece of equipment known as a pusher helps direct the floating cranberries toward the truck, but moving them too quickly or bunching them too closely together can cause jams.

Hartley Family Farm is also inviting visitors to experience the harvest firsthand. The farm offers guided tours, including opportunities for guests to put on waders and step into the bog. For the Hartley family, the experience is about more than harvesting a crop ahead of the holidays.

“It’s a good family experience,” Hartley said. “There are people right now just sitting and talking and enjoying the view.”

The farm’s harvest season offers a glimpse into Massachusetts’ cranberry industry while helping the family preserve its agricultural heritage and share a distinctive local tradition with the community.