Ocean Spray Ingredients is part of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc, a grower-owned co-operative comprising around 700 family farmers across the United States, Canada and Chile. In 1930, Ocean Spray was founded by three bold farmers in Massachusetts—bonded by a single innovative product.
The founders Marcus Urann, John Makepeace, and Elizabeth Lee worked together to create the Jellied Cranberry Sauce before growers from Wisconsin, Washington, and Oregon quickly joined forces. Within a decade, Ocean Spray became the first producer of cranberry juice drinks with products sold on store shelves across the United States. Since then, the company has grown into a vibrant global agricultural cooperative built on the strength of the family farming way of life for nearly 100 years, and for generations to come. Today, cranberries show up in more than a thousand deliciously nourishing products in over 100 countries worldwide. United by passion and purpose, Ocean Spray is committed to trailblazing the power of the mighty cranberry through its offbeat taste and uncanny nutrition to feed better, happier lives for all.
Cran-tastic
Cranberries have made Ocean Spray one of the most successful brands in the US marketplace. The company also ranks as one of the top 50 US food and beverage companies.
The cranberry is recognized for its appealing bright red appearance, tangy taste and versatility, as well as its association with a growing number of health benefits. In Europe, sales of Ocean Spray branded products and ingredients continue to show exceptional success with consumers and manufacturers alike, as the cranberry proves its value in a number if ways. In fact, cranberry ingredients can now be found in hundreds of products in over 50 countries around the globe.
A superfood for beverage and food
Ocean Spray Ingredients is a cranberry ingredients solution provider and a product development resource for companies and organizations of all sizes. The group works as a strategic partner with customers, clients and food technologists to create customized recipes and increase market share through the application of technology.
The phenomenal success and growth of the cranberry can be attributed to Ocean Spray’s dedication to helping manufacturers develop creative and highly appealing new product lines. Over sixty years of research and experimentation have culminated in unparalleled knowledge and experience in new product development – from recipe formulation to market and ingredient analysis.
Ocean Spray’s patented technologies have been used to create an extensive portfolio of fruit ingredients, which are available all year round for the beverage, bakery, confectionery, dairy, cereal, snack and nutraceutical industries:
Cranberry concentrates Sweetened dried cranberries Frozen cranberries
Fruit purées
Cranberry seeds BerryFusions® dried fruits
One ingredient.
Endless possibilites.
From energizing smoothies to soothing teas, cranberry concentrate brings bold flavor and nutrients to every sip. Whether blended into juices, stirred into cocktails and mocktails or added to functional shots, it’s a smart ingredient that adapts to today’s most popular beverage formats and can be part of a daily wellness routine. The strong red color and bold, tart taste bring something special to every beverage.
In juices and beverages, cranberry concentrates and fruit powders are widely used. The versatility of the ingredient gives rise to a broad range of application opportunities. On my recent trip to the Discovery and Tasting Center, Receiving Station and Bogs in Massachusetts, I was privileged to try some of them. Discussions with Research and Culinary experts underline the detailed care taken with every new idea and product. Beverages are always a positive option to demonstrate health and flavor innovations.
A resource for health & wellness Early scientific findings on the cranberry related to the prevention of urinary tract infection and inspired a host of further research into gut, oral and heart health. The cranberry is considered a superfruit, and provides nutrients and bioactives including vitamin C, fiber, minerals and polyphenols. Research suggests there are multiple, powerful elements found within cranberries that are linked to a variety of health benefits. Besides helping consumers meet their recommended daily fruit intake, cranberries and certain cranberry beverages may also help support urinary tract, gut, oral, and heart health.
Cranberries are very high in anti-oxidants per gram, more than any other common fruit, and the unique tannins, A-type proanthocyanidins, have been found to work in many ways to prevent bacteria such as E. coli adhering to body cells and causing infection. The cranberry’s huge nutraceutical potential is still largely untapped and future research projects in this exciting field are continually underway.
Other research has cast light on how cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) actively disable certain bacteria such as E. coli, preventing them from adhering to cells in the body where they could potentially cause infection. With many bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics, the anti-adhesion properties of the cranberry are emerging as a potentially significant step towards finding a viable means to reduce our dependence on antibiotics by reducing the risk of initial infections.
Sustainable farming
My recent visit to the cranberry bog to experience the harvest was an eye opener. As a cooperative, Ocean Spray is farmer-owned. Neighbors help each other and the work is done efficiently. Sustainability is of utmost importance as the land and the people are central to everything the company stands for.
Ocean Spray’s Cooperative Sustain-ability Strategy offers a holistic, common-sense approach grounded in four pillars: Planet, Product, People, and Prosperity.
CEO Tom Hayes: “Each of these pillars reflect the efforts we will make, and the values that guide us. We will continue to understand and track our greenhouse gas emissions and identify areas of opportunity. We will work to improve our packaging and products portfolio globally. We will maintain a safe and inclusive workplace for our team members. We will develop the next generation of farmer-leaders within our Cooperative. To be sustainable is to be prepared for any challenges and ensure the longevity of Ocean Spray for the roughly 700 family farmers-owners who are the past, present, and future of this Cooperative. Sustainable practices are an important component of our organizational health over the long-term. It is what our owners, consumers, partners, and team members expect of us.“
Wet harvesting is more common in cranberry agriculture production. The process involves flooding the cranberry beds and using innovative machinery to gently knock the berries off the vine. The cranberry’s air pockets create buoyancy allowing it to float to the surface of the water and booms are used to round up the floating berries. The berries are then lifted by a conveyor or pumped into a truck to take them to the receiving station for further cleaning and processing.
Water management is vital to all farmer-owners. Together with regenerative cranberry agricultural practices, strategic water management assists them in increasing the resilience of their farms to mitigate climate related risks. Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. However, freshwater quantity and quality are crucial to cranberry cultivation. Cranberry beds are flooded to facilitate harvest and protect the beds with insulating ice during the winter. As freshwater is a finite resource, farmer-owners solve water resource issues by recycling and reusing water from farm to farm and farmer to farmer. Additionally, cranberry farms have the capacity to store water in the event of a flood. As a result, farmers can help build community resilience by allowing excess rainwater into their bogs during high precipitation events. Water quality is equally critical to cranberry agriculture and the health of the surrounding environment and communities.
Versatile way beyond its size Ocean Spray leads the world in researching, developing and supplying new and innovative cranberry based ingredients. The R&D and culinary specialists provide technical and marketing solutions as well as category and consumer trend information to help manufacturers develop new and successful exciting food, beverage and nutraceutical products.
It was a privilege to join this tour with other editor colleagues. Thanks to the excellent care and organization. From my own experience, if you need any convincing about the goodness of cranberries, take a bog tour with the Ocean Spray Ingredients team. This will give you a joy and a healthy feeling, getting you ready to take on anything!
About Author
Ian Healey
For more information:
www.oceanspray.com/ingredients
