| Prior to sometime in the 1920s, cranberries were shipped to market in 100 pound barrels.I can be more specific when I dig out the notes that my late father left me but as I recollect, John Makepeace had the idea that he could sell cranberries to a broader customer market if the cranberries were shipped in smaller containers. These were usually quarter barrel boxes containing 25 pounds of berries but I remember seeing other sizes too. The labels were made for the shipping boxes. There were a variety of labels from different growers and featuring specific varieties as the Howes label indicates. Later on, Mr Makepeace joined Mr Marcus Urann to market berries under a cooperative arrangement that is now Ocean Spray. I haven't done anything with my labels but I have a lot of photos of old cranberrying operations and various scoops used for harvesting. Incidently, you may have seen slightly larger cranberry boxes without lids. These were one third barrel picking boxes used to transport the berries from the bogs to the screen house during harvesting. Thanks to David & Peggy Howes - Sandwich, Cape Cod, Ma. 4/15/04
For more Information and Cranberry History, visit www.georgetowncranbery.com
Pictures - http://www.georgetowncranberry.com/dryharvest.htm | |
