Saturday, September 27, 2025, 9:30 am-12:00 pm
Location: Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak St., Harwich, MA
Cape Cod Cranberries – Natural History, Industry Trends, and Current Horticulture with Dr. Hilary Sandler
Our final meeting of 2025 will be on Saturday, September 27 at 9:30am. Given that fall will be in the air, there will be no better subject than cranberries! We are excited to welcome Dr. Hilary Sandler and her presentation Cape Cod Cranberries- Natural History, Industry Trends and Current Horticulture. Dr. Sandler will discuss the role that the unique geology of Cape Cod played in the development of our local cranberry industry as well as interesting botanical attributes of the genus, Vaccinium, with a focus on V. macrocarpon, the cultivated large-fruited cranberry. She will also provide historical context for the development of the cranberry industry and highlight current industry trends.
Dr. Sandler is Extension Professor Emerita in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and former Director of the UMass Cranberry Station in East Wareham, MA. Prior to her retirement in May 2024, she provided leadership for the development, coordination and delivery of activities related to the adoption and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) for specialty crops in Massachusetts. She received her Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences from UMass-Amherst in 2004, her M.S. in Plant Pathology from University of Delaware in 1983 and her B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science from University of Pennsylvania in 1981.