Ocean Spray is tightly woven into the fabric of the communities where we operate. From Massachusetts to New Jersey, Wisconsin, Nevada, Texas, and even British Columbia, we call these places home. As our growers and employees work, live and raise their families there, it is a priority for our Cooperative to help non-profit organizations make these communities happier, healthier and safer. One way we support exceptional local programming is through our Community Fund. Last year, we provided more than $100,000 and product donations to support projects like renovating playgrounds, feeding the homeless, and offering STEM education for children.

We recently connected with some of our 2017 grant recipients about how the funds have helped them make a difference in the communities they serve. Here are their stories:

• Cathedral Kitchen’s mission is to use food to change lives in Camden, NJ; it does so by serving freshly prepared meals, six days a week, to those in need. Food is plated and served at the table, providing a dining experience with dignity. The nonprofit also offers free culinary arts education, as well as a contract meal program for local shelters and halfway houses, which means they serve 2,000 meals each day! “We learned about the Community Fund through Grower-Owner Holly Haines, whose family have been long-time supporters of ours,” said Karen Talarico, Cathedral Kitchen’s Executive Director. Director of Development, Noreen Flewelling, added, “The funds helped us purchase protein, pay chef salaries and support the transportation of food to schools and seniors in Camden.”
• Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. In addition to selling more than 200 homes to first-time homeowners, the nonprofit has repaired 450+ homes in the area through its Home Repair Program. “In Philadelphia, we have a high rate of homeownership, a high poverty rate, and an aging housing stock; these three factors mean there is great need for affordable repairs throughout the city,” shared Kathryn Fernandez, Director of Institutional Advancement for the nonprofit. “Ocean Spray’s support means we can help stabilize another family in their home, keeping them warm, safe and dry.”
• Warrens, WI, is an active cranberry-growing community where Ocean Spray Grower-Owner Amy Gebhardt and fellow board members of the Warrens Area Youth Association lead the effort to update the town’s main park, offering a safe and enjoyable space for everyone. Amy has coordinated funding to replace old playground equipment and picnic tables and to install bathrooms and LED lighting; fellow cranberry growers have donated their time and equipment for the park improvements. “The park has become not only a spot kids to play, but also a resource for the community – whether it’s for a meeting or a birthday party,” shared Amy. “The Community Fund grant allows us to finish the park updates as well as maintain it through the seasons.”

  

• Tom Rielly, Co-Director of Brook Retreat in Plympton, MA, tells us that the Community Fund grant allowed them to create a work and job search station to help guests who are getting back on their feet. The Retreat now has a new desktop computer equipped with software for resume building, printing, scanning and job search applications so that users can apply for jobs and integrate back into the community. “Our residents are very grateful for the new technology; it has made the job search aspect of our program much easier,” shared Tom. “We were honored to be chosen as grant recipients and are happy to see the funds’ instant benefit.”

We’re looking to support more community projects this year! Do you know a nonprofit in a location where Ocean Spray operates? Applications are available at www.oceanspray.coop/communityfund and must be submitted before June 15 at 12:00 p.m. noon EST.

Each year, the Board of Directors Award of Excellence shines a much-deserved spotlight on those individuals who have propelled Ocean Spray forward through their incredible commitment to the Cooperative. The highest honor we bestow on our employees, the Awards of Excellence are grounded in our Cooperative’s values of Respect, Ownership, Innovation and Collaboration.

We are so proud to congratulate our 2018 honorees: Kristen Girard, ITG Principal Scientist; Sulphur Springs Human Resources Manager Debbie Johnson; and Cooperative Communications Manager Sharon Newcomb.

Across the Cooperative, all our employees have a fierce dedication to their work and our values—we are always proud to say the OceanSpray team is the best and brightest. This year’s award winners have vastly different roles at Ocean Spray, but the common denominator is their passion for our brand and their care for our customers and consumers.

Kristen Girard - Innovation

Since joining Ocean Spray in 1988, Kristen has excelled in multiple roles in the Ingredient Technology Group (ITG), now serving as the team’s Technical Lead and Principle Scientist. Throughout her impressive career with Ocean Spray, she has shaped and expanded our ingredient business, making it an integral component of our Cooperative’s success.

Her leadership and innovation has driven the development of a variety of cranberry ingredients to more than 90 countries, including cranberry powders, fibers, seed oil, purees, concentrate oil, and most popularly, sweetened dried cranberries. A well-regarded expert for Ocean Spray and in the cranberry industry as a whole, she was a featured presenter at the 2017 International Fruit and Nut Congress in India, which is a global forum for industry leaders and just one recent example of her work to promote the cranberry across the world.

“Kristen’s incredible work around innovating how ITG communications and break through with customers and the industry is one of the key drivers behind our major growth in the ITG SDC business,” said Courtney Hendrickson, ITG Senior Brand Manager.

Debbie Johnson - Leadership

Thanks to a fierce dedication to Ocean Spray’s employees and our culture, Debbie has made it her mission to ensure employees have the tools to they need to succeed and thrive. She has been part of the Ocean Spray family for 34 years, first in finance, later transitioning to Human Resources (HR) where she now serves as Senior Manager, leading our manufacturing HR teams for the Cooperative.

Based in Sulphur Springs, Debbie has been actively involved across our manufacturing area, supporting critical initiatives for the entire network. She was instrumental in talent acquisition for the first wave of employees at our Tomah, Wisconsin facility, and provided expertise and support with ramp up activities for our Henderson, Nevada plant. She has also stepped up as an acting Human Resources manager when needed in a number of locations.

“Debbie takes complete ownership of her work and always stays true to our Cooperative values,” said Judy L‘Heureux, Director of Human Resources. “She is the epitome of what Human Resources partnership truly means within our organization—a caring leader who recognizes and cares about our most valuable resource: our employees.”

Sharon Newcomb - Customer Focus

Sharon Newcomb, Cooperative Communications Manager, has always been a passionate, public advocate for the cranberry. Through her roles in marketing and communications during the past 22 years, she has advanced Ocean Spray’s messaging around the world. Whether performing media relations, shaping and executing experiential public relations events, or taking a lead role in creating the wildly successful Bogs across America, Sharon continually shares the story of harvest and Ocean Spray with the media, customers and consumers.

She takes a holistic approach to public relations, collaborating across the business on products promotion, cranberry health, trade news, brand awareness and much more. This fall for example, she had bogs appear at Chicago’s International Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo, Washington D.C’s National Co-op Festival on the National Mall, Rockefeller Center, and even in Los Angles at the Emmys.

“From a PR perspective, in 2017 alone Sharon developed and delivered one of our most successful harvest seasons,” said Kellyanne Dignan, Director, Global Cooperative Communications. “Sharon’s creativity, sweat equity, and passion have had a direct and measurable impact on our Cooperative’s growth and success.”

Some days, in the wee hours of the morning, Ocean Spray Grower-Owner Steven Bartling likes to watch the sun rise over his family’s 187-acre farm and reflect on the values, expectations and responsibilities that have been passed down through four generations. He and his family – father, Michael, mother, Barbara, and brother, David – own Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin; the business has been part of the Ocean Spray coop since the 1950’s and celebrated its 70th anniversary last year.

Inside the Cranberry recently chatted with Steven about his family’s 70 years of farming in Manitowish Waters and how they are innovating for the years to come.

Steven, please give us a little history lesson on your family farm.

My great-grandfather Delbert started Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company in 1946 when he and his wife, Myrtle, came up to the area with a small group of people seeking business opportunities after World War II. The land and water were relatively undeveloped after the logging boom of the 1800’s, offering a blank canvas for cranberry production. Delbert worked to establish ditches and waterways on just a few acres.

Sadly, Delbert passed away shortly after that in 1951. My grandfather Fred returned from the Navy to step in; he started developing the land, expanding the farm to 40 acres under his leadership. It was during this time that we became part of the Ocean Spray family.

Later, my uncle Peter returned after going away to college and started working with my grandfather to learn the ins and outs of the business. My dad, Michael, joined after his schooling in 1983 and – together with his brother – drastically grew the operation and acreage to what we have today.

How did you get involved in the business?

I grew up on the farm and spent a lot my free time on the marsh. However, I didn’t start working here until I returned from paramedic school in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, in 2008. At the time, my grandfather Fred was still working to some extent, so I took care of him, while helping with day-to-day tasks and learning the business.

Who works with you on the bog today?

I work with my younger brother, David, my mom, Barbara, and my dad, Michael, who is part of the Ocean Spray’s Board of Directors. Additionally, we have two full-time employees, Brandon and Bill, who do our daily handy work, and we bring on about nine others for seasonal help during the harvest. We are a lean operation that works very well and very hard together, but we also focus on making it a fun, supportive environment.

Your farm celebrated 70 years in business last year. What does that mean to you as a fourth-generation cranberry grower?

70 years is hard to fathom, but it’s quite moving. Because of our history, we feel the weight on our shoulders to move the business towards continued success and growth. This farm has brought our family, the community and cranberry lovers a lot joy over seven decades, and we’d like to see that happen over and over again.

We’ve harvested the cranberry 70 times on this land, and we understand the importance of continuing the tradition. We also recognize the need to innovate so that we can keep up with new demands. It’s the same farm, the same family and the same berry, but we’re evolving the sophistication, volume and speed of our production, as well as the culture of our company.

What are some of the things you do on the farm in 2017 that would amaze your great-grandfather?

Delbert would be blown away by the technology we use today! We have old cranberry rakes sitting on the shelf as a reminder of the back-breaking work he and my grandfather used to do on the farm; today, we have beautiful pieces of equipment, called harrows, that we drive through the marsh to do the hard work of knocking the berries off the vines for us.

Also, in Delbert’s day, frost management in the icy Wisconsin winter meant heading out into the bog in the middle of the night with dim flashlights and thermometers to check on the crop. In 2017, I get an alert on my iPhone while I’m in bed letting me know the pumps have started to prevent frost damage when the temps hit a certain number.

Beyond the technology, my great-grandfather would be impressed with how we evolved the culture of Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company. From a low-volume, high-labor operation, we’ve grown into a large business, producing high-quality cranberries for a variety of great Ocean Spray products. I wonder what he would have thought about Craisins®! We’re focused on the science behind producing the best possible berries that are the right size and right color for current and future products. Who knows what’s next for us!

Looking ahead, where do you see the farm 70 years from now?

We grow a unique little berry that’s truly timeless. So, we have a lot of opportunity ahead of us, and we’ll have to move fast to evolve. On the farm, we’re currently working on ways to make us a stronger operation to support future growth and innovation. We are investing in the structure and equipment that fuel our operation, as well as updating the cultural aspect of the business. Guided by developing research and consumer needs, our focus will continue to be producing on quality, healthy fruit.

Given the updates to come, I think the farm will be even more exciting for our family, employees and community to be a part of 70 years from now. By then, I hope that the cranberry is embraced in many ways beyond human consumption and that cranberry growers are a leading example of how successful sustainable farming can benefit individuals around the globe.

For more about the Bartling family and to see the beauty of the harvest, click here.

On a June afternoon last year, Kristopher Belken, a Business Development Analyst in the Ingredient Technology Group at Ocean Spray, picked up his son, Gali, from middle school. Kris told Gali that something embarrassing happened at work that day: he had been recognized with a community service award at the Cooperative’s Founder’s Day celebration in front of all the employees at Ocean Spray’s global headquarters. His 13-year-old son responded, “Why? Why are you embarrassed for being awesome?”

Kris is, in fact, an awesome guy, who has dedicated much of his life to volunteerism. From coaching softball to helping his town’s historical and finance committees to volunteering at a group home where he met his son, Kris follows his passions to help wherever he can. However, he is very humble in talking about his community service, noting that he was shocked to win the award.

“I didn’t think that what I was doing was all that extraordinary,” he said, modestly. “Many of my volunteer opportunities came to me because there was a need for someone to help; I was able to jump in, and, as result, I’ve had amazing experiences and met awesome people that I otherwise wouldn’t have met.”

Kris is the first recipient of Ocean Spray’s Good Neighbor Award, which was established in 2016 to honor employees who are committed to improving the quality of life for those in the communities where they live and work. Community is a central value at the Cooperative, which provides its employees two paid days per year to volunteer outside of work at charities of their choice and supports local nonprofit organizations with grants and product donations through its Community Fund.

The awards committee received several nominations from Kristopher’s peers, noting that he embodied the spirit of a good neighbor through his involvement in the local communities of Middleboro and Lakeville, MA. In Middleboro, Kris serves as Chairman of the town’s Finance Committee, on the Middleboro Historical Commission and, previously, on the town’s Police Station Renovation Committee. He is also passionately involved with the Freetown-Lakeville Athletic Association, organizing and coaching in the Instructional Girls Softball League for the Town of Lakeville.

Most notably, a year and a half ago, Kris became a foster parent to Gali, whom he is now in the process of adopting. Kris met Gali, who is originally from Ethiopia, in a group home for children where his sister Kara works. She asked Kris to volunteer to spend time with the boy as he didn’t have a dedicated resource and opportunities to venture away from the group home as the other children did. The two bonded instantly, and spending one day a week together quickly became every Saturday, Sunday and holiday. It wasn’t long before Kris invited Gali to be part of his family. “He’s an incredible kid, and I’m proud to be his dad,” said Kris. “I think we were meant to be together, and I have my sister to thank for that.”

As part of the award, Ocean Spray made a $1,000 donation in Kris’ honor to Sunshine Farm Sanctuary, in Bridgewater, MA, which offers children living in foster and group homes the opportunity to work with farm animals in a peaceful, welcoming setting. “My son and I experienced the great work this organization does to help kids in need firsthand,” Kris said. “I was proud to choose them to receive the donation to help them bring comfort to other children.” Kris also received an extra day to volunteer as the Good Neighbor Award winner, so he plans to spend a day or two at Sunshine Farm Sanctuary in the spring to help get the garden ready for the children to begin planting.

When asked why he volunteers, Kris, who was one of nine children, said that he learned a lot about helping others from his parents. His mother used to make time between cleaning the house, doing laundry and making dinner (usually more than one) each day to catch for him while he practiced pitching. Kris also looked up to his late father, who was the Chief Financial Officer at a local hospital, so much it led him to follow in his footsteps by pursuing an education and career in finance. “My father was also a very giving person, always going out of his way to help people around him: family, friends and strangers. He never said ‘no’” shared Kris. “Whenever I’m asked to help out or I see someone or something that needs help, I think back to all the things my parents did for others and I just try do everything I can to live up to their examples.”

On a frosty winter morning in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Heidi Slinkman drops her three-year-old son, Luke, off at preschool and then takes 18-month-old Victoria on a short, scenic ride along the Wisconsin River to her office. Her family’s business is Gaynor Cranberry Company, a member of the Ocean Spray Cooperative since the 1950’s. There, Heidi works alongside her younger sister, Jenna Dempze, and their parents, Gary and Susan Dempze, on the 212-acre cranberry farm that celebrated its 140th anniversary last year.

The Dempzes’ business started in 1876 when the Gaynor Brothers began cultivating cranberries on the property. In the early 1900s, Jenna and Heidi’s great-grandfather, Charlie, worked on the farm as a young boy, along with his mother, Caroline. Charlie worked for the Gaynors until the passing of Margaret Gaynor in 1927, when he purchased stock in the company becoming the owner after nearly 30 years as a dedicated employee.

Heidi, who manages the office for the 140-year-old company, is excited for the opportunity to work with her sister. Jenna returned home last December after eight years in Oklahoma, pursuing her passion of showing horses. Away since her studies at the University of Northern Iowa, Jenna felt a calling to come home and learn the ropes of production and crop management to support the family business.

“In reflecting on what I wanted to do with my future, I saw this as a great time to learn from the 140 years behind us and to innovate for the future of the business,” said Jenna. “I am grateful for the chance to work with my parents and to partner with my sister to sustain it and, hopefully, make it even more successful.”

Bringing new ideas from around the country – and the world – has been an important component propelling this family farm forward for nearly a century and a half. Heidi also went out of state for college, studying business at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. She then travelled to Australia, Chicago and San Diego before returning to the business 10 years ago. It’s a family tradition that began when Heidi and Jenna’s grandfather Gordon left the farm to become a pilot during World War II, and continued with their father pursuing other business ventures before returning to work alongside his parents until becoming president of the company in 2006.

“These unique life experiences away from the farm provide us all with a broader perspective of why what we’re doing here is important,” said Heidi. “We bring fresh, new ideas back to the marsh and apply them to improve our business; I believe it’s a major part of why we’ve been able to stay in business for so many years.”

Fourth generation cranberry farmers Heidi and Jenna spent their childhood, along with their sister, Amy, taking nature hikes, catching frogs, riding four-wheelers, and, of course, working odd jobs on this farm – and now they are responsible for its future. They note that women have always played key roles in the history of the business, including their great-grandmother, Mary, Charlie’s wife; grandmother, Iris, Gordon’s wife; as well as their mother, Susan. “Our female relatives were in charge of payroll and accounts payable and also helped manage the crew,” said Heidi. “We now have the opportunity to manage the operation, and even to jump in the tractor and work alongside the men in the field if we choose to.”

As they look towards the future, Heidi and Jenna aim to have the best vines with the best yield, which will come from continued research. “We also want to ensure that we can develop the right size and color for whatever amazing Ocean Spray® products come out in the future,” said Jenna. Heidi added that, stemming from her international travel experience, she hopes that the health benefits of the cranberry continue to be realized and distributed globally to have a greater impact on those who need it most.

“We realize what a blessing and privilege it is to be part of something so unique, and that was amplified by being able to go out into the world before we came back to the business,” said Heidi. “We’d like to see our family farm and the cranberry industry going strong, and hope that our fifth generation maintains the tradition and drives it forward towards another 140 years of success.”

At Ocean Spray we like to say that “We are Cranberry Growers,” each responsible for igniting a passion for our cranberries around the world. While all employees embody this belief, each year a few stand out and are nominated by their peers to receive the Cooperative’s highest honor, the Board of Directors Award of Excellence.

This year, our Board of Directors has chosen to recognize three individuals who exemplify the values Ocean Spray was founded on 87 years ago. Receiving the 2017 Awards of Excellence are employees Lee Doleman, Sr. Manager Business Development; Bill Frantz, Sr. Manager Ag Economist and Government Relations and Tom Tritt, Plant Operations Manager – Wisconsin Rapids

“Our 2017 honorees are exemplary leaders who bring enthusiasm to their work each and every day setting a powerful example for our entire organization,” shared President and CEO Randy Papadellis. “While all of our employees embrace what it means to be cranberry growers these three honorees truly embody the Cooperative’s values of respect, ownership, innovation and collaboration.”

All three recipients were formally honored by the Board of Directors and Ocean Spray’s Grower-Owners during a ceremony at the 2017 Annual Grower Meeting.

Lee Doleman

Lee joined the Cooperative’s Ingredient Technology Group in 2005 as a Senior Business Development Manager responsible for the team’s European region. With a strong focus on customer service, Lee has spent the last 12 years growing the dried cranberry ingredient business exponentially, developing an agent model that has become the standard by which his team replicates around the world. Expanding his work portfolio, he took on the additional responsibility for the group’s Asia business in April 2016.

Exemplifying Ocean Spray’s values of ownership and collaboration Lee worked to launch “Project Consumption” in 2015. This program eventually evolved into the group’s hugely successful “Chocolate Loves Cranberries” initiative which resulted in several cranberry and chocolate product partnerships in the European market.

“Lee is the epitome of a road warrior who spends tireless hours traveling throughout Europe and Asia meeting with customers to share Ocean Spray’s ingredient story,” shared Tom Hogan, Director of Ingredient Technology Group Sales and Marketing. “His efforts over the years have produced outstanding results and led him to oversee one of the most profitable business groups at Ocean Spray.”

Bill Frantz

With a more than 30 year tenure at Ocean Spray, Bill is known for applying his vast experience and knowledge of agriculture, economics and politics to promote the Cooperative and Grower-Owners’ interests. Joining Ocean Spray in 1985, he began his time with the company developing environmental efforts that continue to be integral to the Cooperative’s current sustainability, grower outreach and government affairs programs.

With a long track record of supporting and advancing the Ocean Spray Cooperative as a whole, Bill transitioned into his current position in 2012. In this role, he has designed and led projects with the goal of educating government officials at all levels about the cranberry industry. Bill’s efforts have included overseeing the Cooperative’s USDA bids, the formation of the Cranberry Caucus as well as his work with the Cranberry Institute and Cranberry Marketing Committee.

“It is so great to see Bill achieve this amazing award. Anyone who works with him recognizes that he is an advocate not just for Ocean Spray, but for the entire Cranberry Industry,” shared Peter Seward, Director of Commercialization. “He develops trusting relationships internally and with so many who work in Government administration along with some of the strongest political figures that led our nation. He is absolutely deserving of this prestigious award.”

Tom Tritt

Tom began his career at Ocean Spray in 2011 where he served as the Operations Manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Plant. For three years he managed the plant’s 24/7 sweetened dried cranberries and concentrate operation all while providing leadership and development opportunities to his 130 employees.

His experience led him to take on the role of Operations Manager at the newly opened Ocean Spray Plant in Lanco, Chile at the start of 2014. Using his clear understanding of the Ocean Spray business in conjunction with his Spanish fluency, Tom worked to set strategic objectives for the Operations Team in Chile. His work produced significant results, leading to a steady increase in plant production, product quality and safety indicators.

During his three years in Chile, Tom managed installation of OSC equipment and technology and also had an appreciable impact on the development of the corporate culture at the plant. Working to integrate the employees into the Ocean Spray network, he implemented cross-training of the entire Chilean workforce prior to the plant’s start-up, including the development of a work exchange program between Chilean and Wisconsin Rapids employees. Tom relocated his family back to Wisconsin Rapids in December of 2016 to take on the role of Plant Manager.

“Tom is a living example of Ocean Spray’s values, not just through his daily efforts and professionalism but also through the commitment his family made relocating to Chile,” said Felipe Valenzuela, Plant Director, Chile. “Tom is a great ambassador of our company, sharing Ocean Spray’s vision and mission with different countries and cultures.”

Congratulations to Lee, Bill and Tom!

David Bain, a Training Platform Specialist at Ocean Spray’s beverage plant in Henderson, NV, is passionate about supporting his city’s senior center. The Henderson Seniors’ Auxiliary is a nonprofit that aims to improve the lives of the local senior population and seniors in need. David has volunteered to help with the center’s community events, such as festivals, dances and holidays meals, working with the Cooperative to provide product donations. So, when the organization was named a 2016 Ocean Spray Community Fund grant recipient, David was thrilled to see this important fixture of his city recognized by Ocean Spray, which employs nearly 150 people in the area.

“As an Ocean Spray employee, I was proud to see our senior center, as well as Mannion Middle School’s food and clothing pantry for underprivileged students and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, which supports foster kids in our area, chosen to receive grants from the Ocean Spray Community Fund,” said David. “Ocean Spray is truly part of the fabric of our community and dedicated to seeing it succeed, and this is a wonderful way to reach out to grassroots organizations that help to do just that.”

Ocean Spray established its Community Fund in 2016 to help nonprofit organizations that strive to improve the communities where its Grower-Owners and employees live and work. The Fund hopes to distribute grants to support local programs in regions in which Ocean Spray operates, including Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Nevada, as well as British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Through funding and employee volunteer efforts, Ocean Spray is proud to serve the many places it calls home.

A call for applications last June through Ocean’s Sprays employee and Grower networks resulted in requests for funding from organizations in many of the Cooperative’s regions. A small committee reviewed each request, ultimately selecting 40 organizations to receive grants. The funded projects range from a playground renovation in Plymouth, MA, to technology that aids search and rescue dogs in Washington State, to educating culinary students in British Columbia about the importance of locally grown produce. In the fall, Ocean Spray granted funds to support these and other programs; some organizations also received product donations.

“As a Cooperative owned and operated by family farmers, Ocean Spray is committed to the communities where we live and operate, and, through our Community Fund, we extend a helping hand to support efforts to make these places stronger, better and safer,” said Dan Crocker, Vice President of Cooperative Development and Global Ingredients for Ocean Spray. “We enjoyed learning about the great work taking place at the local level in these areas and look forward to seeing our funds in action throughout the year.”

Stay tuned for this year’s Community Fund application period, which opens in April. If you are a 501-3c nonprofit organization in one of Ocean’s Spray key regions and would like to request funding, please visit Ocean Spray’s Community page for more information. We look forward to hearing more about the extraordinary programs and organizations that make our communities great places to call home.

For a full list of this year’s recipients, click here.

With the New Year upon us, we’re taking the time to reflect on a successful 2016 harvest season. Last year marked the 200th anniversary of the first commercial cranberry harvest and while our Growers worked hard on their farms picking the crop, Ocean Spray celebrated the season with pop-up bogs, festivals, tours and special events for everyone to enjoy and learn about our favorite fruit.