Warrens Cranberry Festival
Cranberry marshes predate statehood for Wisconsin — the first ones were cultivated in the 1830s, and the Badger State wasn’t created until 1848! Road Trip Foodies know to head to Warrens, Wisconsin, on the last weekend in September for what’s arguably the world’s largest cranberry festival. Next weekend — September 25, 26 and 27, 2009, is the 37th annual Cranfest, and they’re expecting 110,000 visitors to wander through the 850 arts & crafts booths, 350 flea market booths and 100 farm market vendors. But the highlight, as always is the food: more than 100 vendors will offer tasty treats. Be sure to see which grower won this year’s Biggest Berry! The largest (yes, they’re weighed in grams) will get $25 and a plaque!
A must-stop, whether you’re in Warrens for the Cranfest or some other time of year, is the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center in the former Union Cranberry Company warehouse in Warrens, 
built in 1900 from locally-quarried sandstone. (If you’re traveling between January and June, please check for opening times; from June to January, it’s open Mondays through Saturdays). Exhibits show the history of cranberry farming, and (perhaps best of all) there’s a “taste test” kitchen! Depending on when you visit, there might be cranberry pie, cranberry scones, cranberry cookies or another cranberry treats to tempt your taste buds. The Ice Cream Parlor serves several flavors handcrafted by Dave Edwards of Ranison Ice Cream & Candy in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but there’s always cranberry ice cream.
And, just for some good at-home eating, here’s a Salsa recipe from the 2008-9 Cranberry Queen, Rachel Reeck:
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup onions, chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 15.25-ounce can corn, drained
1 15.25-ounce can black beans, drained
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 17-ounce jar cranberry sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir and let stand for 15 minutes before serving to blend the flavors.
