Gaynor Cranberry Company celebrates 150-year family farming legacy

The Gaynor Cranberry Company, located west of Wisconsin Rapids, is celebrating 150 years of family farming during the current harvest season. Heidi Slinkman, representing the fifth generation of the family to work the bogs, noted how technology has modernized the process.

Modern harvesting utilizes specialized implements on John Deere tractors that comb through vines to pluck berries. Because cranberries have hollow internal pockets, they float to the surface when water levels are raised, allowing for easier collection.

Cranberry management requires year-round care to protect both the current yield and the following year’s production. Farmers must protect delicate buds from hail and frost. Additionally, irrigation lines are used during cold periods to create friction and heat, providing essential protection for the crops during winter dormancy.