LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass., (November 21, 2016) – As the farmers of Ocean Spray hustle to harvest their cranberry crops for holiday tables around the world, Thanksgiving is a time where they, like many families, gather to reflect on what's really important. It's a time when busy lifestyles are put on hold with the theme of the day being family, friends, and of course, a delicious meal. As an 86-year-old farmer-owned cooperative, nobody understands this holiday better than the cranberry farmers at Ocean Spray and their families. Consumers looking for fresh recipe ideas and holiday inspiration are invited to take a seat at Ocean Spray's interactive table, which features recipes, how-to videos and traditions inspired by three of Ocean Spray's cranberry growing families.

Our farmer families are the heart of our cooperative, said Kristen Borsari, Vice President, North America Marketing at Ocean Spray. The interactive holiday table is a way for our farmers to connect with families around the country in a more meaningful way – sharing bits of inspiration from their homes and recipes for the holidays.

While each farmer family from coast to coast has its own traditions, stories and recipes, their values remain the same: good food, friends and family always make the holiday a little more special! Enjoy the holiday recipes highlighted below and find more at www.oceanspray.com/FamilyAffair.

Kick off turkey day with the Dempzes' winning apps:

For over 100 years and five generations, the Dempze family has incorporated its passion for growing cranberries into many family celebrations – all held right on their farm. These Wisconsin natives are huge football fans, so they like to whip up cran-tastic™ bites for tailgates and Thanksgiving too. From Cranberry Brie Appetizers, to Touchdown Turkey Pesto Pops, to Sizzling Bacon-Wrapped Apricots with Cranberry Glaze, these all-star apps are the highlight of this family's Thanksgiving playbook.

Serve a tried and true Thanksgiving dinner with the Gilmores:

The Gilmore family, descended from one of Ocean Spray's founding families, knows a thing or two about a traditional Thanksgiving meal– each year, the family gathers in their eighteenth-century New England farmhouse for a traditional meal with all of the fixings. Some of the staples on their table include Cape Cod Cornbread Stuffing and Homemade Whole Berry Sauce. To top it all off, a Festive Punch Ring made with fresh cranberries is the perfect touch to complete the cranberry-inspired table setting.

Finish with dessert for days with the Mays:

The Mays of British Columbia are one of the largest families in the cranberry business, so they know how to deliver an array of festive treats to finish up their Thanksgiving celebration! Since Canadian Thanksgiving falls right in the middle of harvest season, their celebration is all about comfort and convenience – hosting the celebration potluck-style takes the pressure off the host. With different cooks contributing in the kitchen, dessert runs a range of flavors and tastes. Some favorites include Cranberry Pumpkin Cheesecake and Cranberry Almond Pear Crisp, which are perfectly accompanied by a Warm Cranberry Wassail.

Another beloved family tradition for many farmer families includes watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. This year, tune into NBC from 9 a.m. – noon for a chance to see Ocean Spray's float, The Cranberry Cooperative, and a special performance by Grammy-nominated performer Regina Spektor.

To learn more about the Ocean Spray cooperative, visit www.OceanSpray.com, and be sure to share your favorite Thanksgiving traditions and recipes with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world's leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative's cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.com or www.oceanspray.coop.