Cranberries Straight from the Bog!

Fred Bottomley, a former developer and 10th generation grandson of John Alden, stumbled into a deal involving 350 acres of cranberries a few years back and now he's a full-scale cranberry farmer and owner of Fairland Farms.

Bonnie Kavanagh was a Rhode Island nurse who became so interested in cranberries she wrote a book about them – Rubies in the Sand.

Now Kavanagh markets the cranberries that come from Bottomley's bogs – some organic, some carefully managed for pests. She also gives group tours of the bog.

Already a presence at many local farmers' markets selling dried cranberries, she will be offering fresh ones by mid-September, in time for the holidays. Year-round, she offers a half-dozen variations on dried cranberries, including organic and sweetened with apple juice; "lean" with sugar and added fiber; whole with evaporated cane juice; and omega-3-fortified. Kavanagh considers cranberries a "super food" because of their ability to boost immune systems, prevent bacterial infections and even fight plaque on teeth.

Available at Coastal Growers' Markets; Hope Street Farmers' Market, Pawtucket Wintertime Market, Ellie's Bakery, Providence, Whole Foods Markets and more.