Why aren't there any fresh cranberries now?

Oooo, this is an easy question! Almost all of the cranberries in the world are produced in North America. The harvest season typically runs from mid-September through mid-November, and most cranberry bogs are harvested wet--you know, like you see in the commercials with those two guys in waders? Wet-harvested fruit is most suitable for processing; it's sold to be used for juices, sweetened dried cranberries, sauce, and the like. Wet-harvesting is the most efficient means of harvesting.

A small number of acres are harvested dry for fresh fruit. Bags of fresh cranberries are easy to find in most markets during October, November, and December! Unfortunately for people in NJ who are looking for locally-produced cranberries, the vast majority of our growers exclusively wet-harvest. Locally-grown cranberries can be found in some local supermarkets and farmers markets during the fall, and quite a few can be found at the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival in October.

To have fresh cranberries during the rest of the year, your best bet is to stock up in the fall. Cranberries freeze very well. Sort through the berries before freezing them, but don't rinse them (they'll freeze in a big clump if you do). They can be frozen for six months (I've kept them for longer, but six months is the generally accepted interval) and can be used without thawing in any recipe that calls for fresh cranberries.