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Wisconsin's Cranberry Harvest
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Cranberries thrive particularly well in the marshy lowlands of central Wisconsin, with the harvest usually beginning in late September and continuing through most of October. If you draw a line from Tomah (about 50 miles east of LaCrosse) northwest 35 miles to Black River Falls, east 50 miles to Wisconsin Rapids then back to Tomah, you'll include about 85 percent of the state's cranberry marsh acreage. In the state that ranks as the nation's top cranberry producer, marshes full of plump, ruby-red berries compete for your attention along back roads lined with autumn color.
To view the harvest in the Tomah-Warrens area, take I-94 north of Tomah to the Warrens exit. Go east on County-EW about four miles, and you're in the heart of cranberry country. You'll also see the Cranberry Expo Museum and Gift Shop along that highway.
In the Wisconsin Rapids area, drive State-54 or State-173 southwest of town to view cranberry marshes along the roadways. The Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes a free booklet including information about marsh tours (running through October); a 50-mile self-guided driving tour on the Cranberry Highway, with stops for sampling cranberry specialties; and a 24-mile bicycle route along the Cranberry Trail. The booklet also lists motel packages and other fall events. For instance, at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids, you can participate in The Cranberry Caper 2002, a mystery dinner-theater program (800/843-6323).
In the northern part of the state, cranberry growers and the Chamber of Commerce in the Manitowish Waters area (235 miles north of Madison) host marsh tours on Fridays through October 18. You can see and learn about a working cranberry marsh and buy items made from the fresh-picked berries.
