PLYMPTON — I arrived with the turning leaves to prepare for the impending harvest. The first bogs at Mayflower Cranberries in Plympton were cultivated more than a century ago, and while countless workers have since joined in the annual fall ritual, I came as one of a burgeoning breed of agritourists looking to encounter my food at its source.

In step with a nationwide trend among farmers, a small but expanding group of 10 or so Massachusetts growers invite visitors to learn more about the cranberry crop. Roadside stands mark the byways of greater Cape Cod, and curious travelers can often schedule farm tours for a look at the berry before it reaches the gelatin mold.