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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306183
Title: The American cranberry crowned jewel of the bog at the 2014 U.S.A. Science & Engineering Festival

Author
item Zalapa, Juan
item Wiesman, Eric
item SCHLAUTMAN, BRANDON - University Of Wisconsin
item COVARRUBIAS, EDUARDO - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2014
Publication Date: 7/1/2014
Citation: Zalapa, J.E., Wiesman, E.C., Schlautman, B., Covarrubias, E. 2014. The American cranberry crowned jewel of the bog at the 2014 U.S.A. Science & Engineering Festival. Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. XXV(7):18.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: For researchers in Dr. Juan Zalapa’s Cranberry Genetics and Genomics Lab, part of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit, cranberries are more than a side dish on their Thanksgiving tables, they are the main course in their daily studies. The majority of these little red super-fruits come from the state of Wisconsin, which produces 60% of the nation’s cranberries. Daily tasks of the Zalapa lab include using modern molecular genetic tools combined with classical breeding strategies to improve the fruit yield and other qualities of cranberries, making them part of a healthy diet while at the same time helping Wisconsin cranberry producers grow more cranberries in increasingly sustainable ways to ensure that Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in production. In addition to their work in the lab, the Zalapa group has been actively involved in making their cranberry research available to the public through outreach events, serving over 4,000 people in nine diverse events over the past year alone.