Mother Nature gifted a perfect day for cranberry harvesting Thursday in the heart of cranberry country, south of Boston. Under a deep blue sky and temperatures in the mid-70s, workers waded in hip-boots into the cold bogs to harvest the bright crimson berries that have been a staple on Thanksgiving tables for decades. Edgewood Bogs grows a variety of cranberries on its 250 acres of bogs spread out in Carver. Wet harvesting began Sept. 21 and will continue until Nov. 1. This year has been different since the company started 75 years ago. “COVID has affected us this time of year when it’s difficult for the workers to stay 6 feet apart,” said Jarrod Rhodes, the son of owner Matt Rhodes. Jarrod oversees the day-to-day operations. His hard-working employees are all Puerto Ricans who commute from New Bedford. Rafael Nieves is the longest-working employee with 33 years of experience. He usually mans the controls atop the loud and dangerous conveyor belt machine that lifts and cleans the berries and drops them into waiting 18-wheelers. “We take care of ourselves real good.” Nieves said. “So far so good. We have rules. Anybody who feels sick stays home.” he said.
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