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 Natural Import Company Newsletter
Letter From the Top...
Dear Friends,
In
our "Scottish" home the holidays are just not complete without the
presence of beautiful red cranberries. I still remember how my mother
used to hand-string fresh cranberries and to decorate our
Christmas tree. One
of only three fruits truly native to North America, the cranberry grows
as a low vine-like dwarfed bush in a sandy bog. These bogs thrive in
the northern
wetlands accumulating acidic peat (a natural deposit of dead plant
material), making these berries some of the best and healthiest in the
world. The
cranberries we have selected are traditional Canadian berries and are a
native heirloom North American variety, resulting in a small, deep colored and
delicious berry. They have been wet-harvested by our French supplier, on
their organic family farm and are then slowly dried at a very low
temperature.
Unlike most dried cranberries on the market today,
ours have not been juiced prior to dehydration resulting in superior
taste and highly concentrated nutrients. It wasn't easy finding
naturally sweetened certified organic cranberries and I am truly
pleased to be able to offer them to you just in time for the holidays. Season's Greetings!
Bruce S. Macdonald President
______________________________________________________________________________________________ History of the American Cranberry
Cranberries
are native to North America. Long before the Mayflower pilgrims came
ashore, Native Americans found many uses for "sassamanash,"as some
tribes called the red berries. They were the first to recognize and use
cranberries as a source of food and made plenty of pemmican (the
berries are an excellent source of vitamin C), which kept well thru the
long cold northern winters. Cranberries are also a source of
natural dye were used medicinally and sacred ceremonies. They are
reported to have introduced the cranberry to starving English settlers
in Massachusetts around 1620, who incorporated the berry into the
traditional Thanksgiving feast. The Pilgrims immediatelty took to
these bitter little berries. American Revolutionary War veteran Henry
Hall is thought to be the first to cultivate the cranberry commercially
in the Cape Cod town of Dennis around 1816. The English word
cranberry is the shortened version of craneberry, which came from the
plant's flowers that dip down and resemble the head of a crane. Birds
are also fond of cranberries which grow in the same bogs where cranes
also make their home.
In Canada, cranberries are often referred to by their Amerindian
name "Atoca." Cranberries are also known as bounceberries, because they
literally bounce if dropped when fresh and bearberry, since bears also
love them.
Health Benefits: Cranberries offer several important health
benefits. Today, health researchers are producing reliable evidence
that cranberries are not only a healthy low calorie fruit but they can
also play a significant role in preventing urinary tract infections
and reducing the risk of gum disease. In other health areas,
cranberries are showing great promise in alleviating more serious
aliments such as heart disease, kidney failure and cancer.
Many physicians and other health professionals now believe these is a...Read More
_________________________________________________________________ Crystal's Corner
 Fresh Pine Needle Bath
- The Japanese have long revered the enchanted
"Matsu" or Pine. They believe that it holds the ability to renew your
spirit, ease stiffness, and bring harmony and balance to the body. During snowy winters...Read More
 Winter Pine Needle & Cranberry Tea
- Pine needle tea is high in vitamins A and C. In fact, the fresh green
needles have five times the amount of vitamin C found in one...Read More ___________________________________________________________
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Cranberries & Icicles dangle from a frozen winter Bog
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This Month's Feature:
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Organic Dried Cranberries
Seasonal Recipes 
Crystal's Scottish Cranberry Corn Muffins
These colorful corn muffins can be served as a warm morning muffin or as part of your holiday...read more 
Festive Mint Cranberry Sauce A tempting accompaniment when served with the muffins above as or as a deliciously tart side...read more
 Holiday Cranberry Pudding
"Oh bring us some Cranberry Pudding!" A modern version of figgy pudding guaranteed to bring cheer to your...read more
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Questions or Comments? Contact us, we'd love to hear from you! e Gift Certificates
Copyright (c) 2007 Natural Import Co. All rights Reserved
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Natural Import Company
