Terra Beata Cranberries: The Nutritious Choice

Terra Beata Cranberry Farm is the outcome of husband and wife duo, Evelyn and David, taking a chance on buying a piece of land across from their picturesque yellow house in Lunenburg County. Fourteen years later, their farm and processing facility is a great example of how two passionate people, along with their dedicated staff, can produce quality cranberry products.

What started off as a small-scale farm has now turned into the hub for berry producers across Canada. This, in part, is due to Evelyn and David’s belief of building positive relationships with other cranberry farmers across the country and working together with them.

The processing plant on the farm allows them to create and sell different products for many cranberry producers. Cranberries are not their only specialty, blueberries are also processed here.

The majority of their sales is frozen exports to Europe (including being the berry in Kellogg’s cereal in France!) but Evelyn and David are also committed to providing Atlantic Canadians with high quality, delicious cranberries.

Evelyn was shocked when I told her I had never eaten a fresh cranberry. As a result, she did a taste test for me:

Fresh cranberry: sour and tangy
         Frozen cranberry: slightly sweeter than fresh, but still sour
         Dried cranberry (no sugar): very chewy and little flavour
         Sweetened dried cranberry: moist and delicious

As a nutritional therapist, sugar is something that we advise clients to minimize, but after the taste test demonstration I have a complete understanding as to why it is necessary in dried cranberries. Sugar is added for moisture and to bring out the flavour. The difference between Terra Beata’s dried cranberries and conventional ones is that Terra Beata cranberries have significantly less sugar. By weight, their cranberries are 10% sugar, compared to conventional ones that are 50% sugar. Choosing Terra Beata is definitely the nutritious choice!

As well, cranberries are high in antioxidants, similar to their cousin, the blueberry. Antioxidants are essential for binding with any free radicals in the body to ensure the body remains in optimal health.  The 100% pure cranberry juice is a must have when dealing with urinary tract infections- the cranberries help fight off the bad bacteria due to their amounts of proanthocyanidins (a type of antioxidant).

All these health benefits can be achieved by indulging in any of Terra Beata range of cranberry products- frozen, dried and a variety of preserves including chutney, salsa, marmalade and mincemeat. I couldn’t wait to get home to start cooking with these beautiful ingredients!

Keep your eyes open for Terra Beata Cranberries sold at various places across Atlantic Canada, including Sobeys. In addition, many other Nova Scotian businesses like Fid Resto, Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet and Ironworks Distillery also use their cranberries.

Or if you want to see everything for yourself, Terra Beata welcomes visitors to the farm at any time during the year. October is an ideal time to visit because it is their U-Pick season – so gather your family and friends and head down to the farm to pick your own cranberries!

Here are a few healthful and nourishing Terra Beata cranberry-inspired recipes for you to enjoy:

Cranberry Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients
1 cup whole milk (Fox Hill Cheese House)
1 cup frozen Terra Beata cranberries
1 banana

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy a filling smoothie to start off the day

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chili

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef (choose grass fed beef for optimal health benefits)
½ jar of Terra Beata’s Cranberry Orange Sauce
1 diced onion
1 diced bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup of pureed tomatoes
2 cups of kidney beans (soaked the night before)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
½ tsp ground black pepper

Directions
1) Place the beef in a skillet over medium heat, and cook until evenly brown
2) Place the beef in a slow cooker, and mix in remaining ingredients
3) Cover, and cook 8 hours on low

Easy-Peasy Cranberry Balls

Ingredients
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
¾ cup oatmeal
¾ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
½ cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ Terra Beata cranberries

Directions
1) Stir together peanut butter, honey and vanilla
2) Stir in the remaining ingredients then roll into approximately 20 balls
3) These can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer

 (Recipes provided by Krista Butler)