Cranberries come from North America, and were long used by Native Americans before the colonization in dishes such as pemmican, a high-protein combination of ingredients including dried meat, with crushed cranberries.
Cranberries peak from mid-July to September, but are available between May and February.
Most cranberries are sold bagged or packaged. Choose bags that don’t have any moisture and check that the fruits are firm.
You can safely store fresh cranberries in the refrigerator for weeks. Rinse with cold water before use to add freshness. They can be frozen in a resealable bag to prevent dehydration. Do not thaw them or they will lose crispiness. Simply rinse in cold water.