In a world filled with commercial-free streaming providers, a number of the most memorable tv commercials from my childhood come from Ocean Spray. The commercials sometimes featured two of the cooperative’s farmers sporting waders, knee-deep in a cranberry bathroom, selling Ocean Spray’s line of merchandise.
Just lately, I had the chance to journey to Massachusetts to spend time with Ocean Spray Substances to study extra in regards to the firm’s numerous cranberry improvements and formulations with fellow editors. Throughout this journey, it was like I bought to step into one among these commercials: I placed on a pair of Ocean Spray-branded waders and headed knee-deep right into a cranberry bathroom. The bathroom we visited was second-generation owned by Steve Ward, of Steven F. Ward Cranberries. Ward is among the almost 700 household farmers that make up the cooperative.
Previous to the bathroom tour, fellow editors and I have been invited to Ocean Spray headquarters in Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass. The morning started with a portfolio overview and tasting with two members of the Ocean Spray Substances staff, Curtis Gong, senior scientist, and Chef Charley Morrill, senior analysis chef. We have been accompanied by Adena Barber, development and buyer advertising supervisor for Ocean Spray Substances, and Seema Kedia, senior supervisor of strategic advertising for Ocean Spray Substances.
The staff shared the advantages of utilizing cranberries as substances throughout a wide range of formulations, together with the moment attraction of shade, daring style, mixing properly with different flavors, shelf life, customization skills and total shopper demand. Greater than a thousand merchandise embrace cranberries from Ocean Spray, and we noticed a handful of those merchandise whereas at headquarters.
Because it pertains to the beverage trade, Ocean Spray Substances’ Cranberry Focus provides each a tart taste and intense purple shade, which lends itself to merchandise like juices. The number of concentrates can be utilized in several formulations. We bought to attempt cranberry-infused apple cider and Ocean Spray’s White Cran x Strawberry Juice whereas on the headquarters.
The substances staff emphasised that cranberry concentrates and purees can lend themselves to purposes reminiscent of smoothies and work as a pure colorant. Cranberries are often called a superfruit. The berries are full of highly effective vitamins and sure well-documented well being advantages that may make cranberries a great addition to a balanced weight loss plan and wholesome way of life.
Analysis suggests there are a number of highly effective parts discovered inside cranberries which might be linked to a wide range of well being advantages. In addition to serving to customers meet their really useful every day fruit consumption, cranberries and sure cranberry beverage merchandise might also assist help urinary tract, intestine, oral and coronary heart well being, the staff shared.
“From energizing smoothies to soothing teas, cranberry focus brings daring taste and vitamins to each sip,” the staff famous in a presentation. “Whether or not blended into juices, stirred into cocktails and mocktails or added to purposeful pictures, it’s a wise ingredient that adapts to at the moment’s hottest beverage codecs and will be a part of a every day wellness routine.”
After visiting headquarters and the bathroom tour, and after a break for lunch, we stopped by a receiving station. Throughout peak season, greater than 100 semitrucks will come by the station in a day to drop off a great deal of cranberries. Even the one load we witnessed held an astounding variety of cranberries.
We then toured one among Ocean Spray’s crops, the place we bought to see firsthand the large product of cranberry merchandise like Ocean Spray’s sweetened dried cranberries. Regardless of the massive scale of the power, I used to be stunned to witness how a lot guide labor was nonetheless concerned within the course of.
Our day concluded with a cranberry-themed dinner at Solstice, a restaurant in Kingston, Mass. The dishes every featured some type of cranberries, reminiscent of pickled cranberries and a gastrique sauce.
Ocean Spray’s roots date again to 1930, and the cooperative first launched the Cranberry Juice Cocktail a couple of years later. In its almost 100-year historical past, Ocean Spray has grown its juice and juice drinks portfolio to incorporate an array of choices, from zero sugar choices to Cran-Power juice drinks. The corporate additionally provides lineups of cocktail mixers and water enhancers, along with the choices from the Ocean Spray Substances staff.
Most not too long ago, Ocean Spray launched a marketing campaign with Emmy- and Tony-Award profitable actor Bryan Cranson, titled Simply Add Cran, Watch out for Cranpus. The marketing campaign turns a vacation custom on its head with Cranpus, a legendary hoarder of cranberries, who steals cranberries from vacation tables and celebrations. The playful, cinematic reminder goals to showcase that cranberries are the important staple of the vacation season, the corporate says.
At Ocean Spray headquarters, a portrait of Cranpus hangs above the fireside within the foyer, holding a watchful eye on staff and seemingly awaiting the following innovation from the model.
No matter that innovation could be, whether or not it’s meals or beverage, it’s clear that Ocean Spray Substances goals to ship on shopper want states utilizing the ability of the superfruit.
