One Fruit, Five Ways: Ocean Spray’s Secret to Summer Celebrations

The versatile cranberry bounces into unexpected dishes, surprising guests in a good-for-you way

One of Mother Nature's super fruits, the cranberry, shakes up summertime menus in a big way and delights with its versatile, bold taste. (Photo: Business Wire)

LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass.--()--With all the summer celebrations kicking off there’s hardly time to plan the festivities, never mind to prepare the countless side dishes and desserts. Looking for an ingredient with that 360-degree (taste, versatility, pizzazz) savoir-faire? The cranberry is perfect for creating party fare that pops with healthy goodness and vibrant taste.

Delight your family and friends with summer dishes (and drinks!) that truly inspire and surprise in five simple, yet delicious ways.

1. Better Water

As guests arrive, help them refresh with a tall, chilled pitcher of summer spritzers. Add sparkling water and lime to a serving of cranberry juice cocktail for a fan-favorite, scrumptious sip!

2. Sangria’s Best Friend

Elevate your sangria recipe with a little cranberry vitality – mix together a bottle of cranberry juice cocktail with your favorite red wine, club soda and citrus fruits of choice.

3. Go ALL OUT With Appetizers

Skip the traditional appetizer of cheese and crackers, and opt for a zesty, tangy salsa. Cranberry sauce provides a great base for a sweet and savory salsa worth sharing. Serve with homemade pita chips to kick the culinary journey into high gear.

4. Presentation With Purpose

Greens can get a bad rap for being boring, plain, or worse… flavorless. But not when you toss the sweet, tangy taste of Craisins® Dried Cranberries into the mix. Add in some sunflower seeds and nuts or soft cheese and let the magic happen. Or make a salad dressing using cranberry juice cocktail.

5. Cool, Carefree Desserts

Make Berry Chocolate Yogurt Pops for a cool, guilt-free dessert. Freeze cranberry juice cocktail, strawberry yogurt, fresh strawberries and chocolate chips into popsicle molds for a charming dessert.

And the biggest secret of all, your guests won’t know is that they’re savoring more than just the cranberry’s big bold taste. Cranberries are rich in powerful nutrients and many cranberry products are a good source of Vitamin C, to help support your immune system.

For more cranberry information and recipes, visit Ocean Spray on Facebook.

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 90 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. In fiscal year 2013, Ocean Spray posted gross sales of $2.2 billion and net proceeds of $380 million. For more information visit www.oceanspray.com or our corporate blog at www.insidethecranberry.com

Contacts

Ocean Spray
Cindy Taccini, 508-946-7424
ctaccini@oceanspray.com
or
For Ocean Spray
Merritt Ward, 617-520-7068
mward@webershandwick.com

Release Summary

With all the summer celebrations kicking off there's hardly time to plan the festivities or prepare dishes so look for the cranberry to help create the perfect healthy and tasty party fare.

Contacts

Ocean Spray
Cindy Taccini, 508-946-7424
ctaccini@oceanspray.com
or
For Ocean Spray
Merritt Ward, 617-520-7068
mward@webershandwick.com