Preserving Fresh Fall Produce to Enjoy All Winter Long

October 6, 2026

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the cozy flavours of fall produce long after the leaves have fallen. With a little planning, you can preserve the best of the season now and enjoy your favourite fall flavours right up until the snow begins to melt.

Fresh Organic Cranberries

Our fresh organic cranberries have arrived just in time for Thanksgiving! A seasonal treat that only comes in during the fall months, now is the perfect time to pick up a few extra bags. Cranberries freeze beautifully, and buying extra now means you’ll have them on hand for holiday baking, sauces, desserts, and more all winter long.

You can also make your cranberry sauce ahead of time and preserve it for later. Here are two easy ways to make the most of your fresh cranberries.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh organic cranberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water or orange juice
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Method 

1. Rinse the cranberries and remove any soft or damaged berries.
2. Combine the cranberries, sugar, and water or orange juice in a saucepan.
3. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. The cranberries will begin to burst as the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat when it reaches your preferred consistency.
5. Stir in the orange zest and cinnamon, if using.
6. Let cool. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
7. Refrigerate and enjoy, or preserve using one of the methods below.

Freezing Fresh Cranberries

Freezing whole cranberries is one of the easiest ways to preserve them.

1. Sort through the berries and remove any damaged or soft cranberries.
2. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
3. Spread the cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
4. Transfer the frozen berries to airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much excess air as possible.
5. Label and date the packages.

Frozen cranberries can generally be used straight from the freezer in sauces, muffins, breads, pies, and other recipes. There’s no need to thaw them first!

Tip: Freeze cranberries in the quantities you’ll typically use—such as 2- or 4-cup portions—so you can take out exactly what you need.

Freezing Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce can also be made ahead and frozen.

Once the sauce has cooled completely, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving room for expansion. Seal, label, and freeze.

For best quality, use frozen cranberry sauce within several months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving. If the texture has changed slightly after freezing, give it a good stir before serving.

Basic Method for Canning Cranberry Sauce

Canning is a wonderful method if you’d like to preserve cranberry sauce for your pantry. Always use a tested canning recipe and current home-canning guidance rather than adapting the ingredients or processing time from a general recipe.

For a basic water-bath canning approach:

1. Prepare the cranberry sauce according to a tested canning recipe.
2. Wash and sanitize jars and keep them hot until ready to fill.
3. Ladle the hot sauce into hot jars, following the tested recipe's specified headspace.
4. Remove air bubbles and wipe the jar rims clean.
5. Apply the lids and screw bands according to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Process the filled jars in a boiling-water canner for the time specified by the tested recipe, adjusting for altitude where required.
7. Remove the jars and allow them to cool undisturbed.
8. Check the seals before storing. Label and date the jars and store them in a cool, dark place.

Important: Canning is a food-safety process, so processing times and recipes should not be guessed or shortened. For cranberry sauce, use a recipe specifically tested for water-bath canning and follow the instructions exactly. 

With a few extra bags of our fresh Quebec cranberries, you can capture a little bit of fall now and enjoy that bright cranberry flavour well into the winter months.