Bandon Cranberry Festival 2009 September 11-13th
This year marks the 63rd year for Bandon's Cranberry Festival, 3 full days of events to celebrate the harvest of the cranberries. For such a small town, this festival is no small celebration. Festivities include a blessing of the harvest, an annually "themed" town parade, Cranberry Bowl football game, Cranberry Festival Court and Princess Competition, Live Music, Tractor Show, Food, and over 65 Vendors in Old Town. Many people travel each year to be a part of the Cranberry Festival so book your hotel rooms and vacation rentals now if you are planning to come. There is nothing more special than the Cranberry Festival in Bandon.
Here are two websites that will continue to be updated as the 2009 festival nears:
Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Events
BandonCranberryFest.com
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Welcome to the Cranberry Capital
For many years, cranberries have been one of the area's top agricultural crops, and Bandon has long been known as the "Cranberry Capital of Oregon."
According to the USDA, Oregon is expected to harvest about 500,000 barrels of the hardy, tart red fruit this year, about 8 percent above the 2006 crop, which was 465,000 barrels. That amount was up 14 percent from the 2005 crop of 440,000 barrels (a barrel is 100 pounds of berries). Nationwide, the crop is forecast at 6.90 million barrels. Of that total, Coos and Curry counties produce 4 percent.
Each acre of cranberries yields roughly 175 barrels. Bandon is one of four cranberry-producing areas on the West Coast, representing approximately one-third of the total West Coast crop. There are approximately 175 growers in Coos and Curry counties, representing 2,500-plus acres of berries.
Ninety-nine percent of the berries harvested in Coos and Curry counties are sent to plants where they are either frozen or processed into juice concentrate to be used for juice products.
A small amount, about 3,000 barrels, is sold as fresh fruit. Bandon cranberries are prized for their rich color and tart taste - perfect for making juice. The annual harvest usually starts in mid-September and ends around Thanksgiving.
Growers from Coos and Curry counties deliver to Ocean Spray, Cape Blanco Cranberries, Faber Farms and other plants in the area.
Most growers "wet harvest" their crops by flooding the bogs with water.
Each fall, Bandon celebrates its annual Cranberry Festival to honor the industry that has provided a livelihood for hundreds of residents for many years.
Here are two websites that will continue to be updated as the 2009 festival nears:
Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Events
BandonCranberryFest.com
________________________________________________________
Welcome to the Cranberry Capital
For many years, cranberries have been one of the area's top agricultural crops, and Bandon has long been known as the "Cranberry Capital of Oregon."
According to the USDA, Oregon is expected to harvest about 500,000 barrels of the hardy, tart red fruit this year, about 8 percent above the 2006 crop, which was 465,000 barrels. That amount was up 14 percent from the 2005 crop of 440,000 barrels (a barrel is 100 pounds of berries). Nationwide, the crop is forecast at 6.90 million barrels. Of that total, Coos and Curry counties produce 4 percent.
Each acre of cranberries yields roughly 175 barrels. Bandon is one of four cranberry-producing areas on the West Coast, representing approximately one-third of the total West Coast crop. There are approximately 175 growers in Coos and Curry counties, representing 2,500-plus acres of berries.
Ninety-nine percent of the berries harvested in Coos and Curry counties are sent to plants where they are either frozen or processed into juice concentrate to be used for juice products.
A small amount, about 3,000 barrels, is sold as fresh fruit. Bandon cranberries are prized for their rich color and tart taste - perfect for making juice. The annual harvest usually starts in mid-September and ends around Thanksgiving.
Growers from Coos and Curry counties deliver to Ocean Spray, Cape Blanco Cranberries, Faber Farms and other plants in the area.
Most growers "wet harvest" their crops by flooding the bogs with water.
Each fall, Bandon celebrates its annual Cranberry Festival to honor the industry that has provided a livelihood for hundreds of residents for many years.
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