Where is origin of cranberry?
Is it true that cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America? Not quite. We have not been able to track down the origin of this statement, but it seems to be a misinterpretation of the more-defensible claim that of commercially-important fruits, only three originated in North America, in the sense that they were not known in other parts of the world. These are the cranberry, the blueberry, and the Concord type blue grape (Vitis labrusca.) Native Americans made use of several kinds of berries, including strawberries and raspberries, but these were also known to Europeans. There are many other fruits, such as the pawpaw and the saskatoon, that are native to North America, but are not commercially important. Cranberries do have a special place as a uniquely North American fruit, but the claim has to be carefully stated to be accurate.
