When the US cranberry harvest typically starts around September yield reports are impatiently awaited.
A strong harvest is particularly important to the manufacturers and consumers of the highly concentrated, therapeutic level extracts, so the great news for the 2026 harvest is that reports from different areas indicate another strong crop, from Wisconsin to the misty coast of Oregon, the primary source for Ethical Naturals’ (ENI) Cranberex premium-quality extract.1
Consumers wishing to use cranberry products for Urinary Tract Health (UTH) support face many choices, from sugared juices to powdered concentrates, to extracts standardized for general proanthocyanidins (PAC’s), to, at the highest level of efficacy, the key cranberry A-Type PAC’s. The best brands help consumers choose wisely.
That cranberries have benefits in supporting UTH has been known for many years. However, the compounds responsible for these benefits were little understood until relatively recently, and consumer knowledge has yet to catch up.
All fruits and berries, including cranberries, contain a wide range of PAC’s in their dark colored pigments, and these compounds also play important roles as immune enhancers, in anti-inflammatory activity, cardiovascular support, and many other health functions. However, they play no identifiable active role in supporting UTH.2
The turning point in the understanding how cranberries supported UTH was the publication of the key clinical study published in 2005, ‘A-type cranberry proanthocyanidins and uropathogenic bacterial anti-adhesion activity’, by Amy Howell et al.3
This study established clearly that the A-Type PAC’s found only in cranberry were responsible for its anti-adhesion activity (AAA) that prevented bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract. It’s for this reason that Cranberex and other high-grade cranberry extracts are tested by the p-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde DMAC method that quantifies levels of the specific A-Type PAC’s.
Since this key study, additional clinical trials have clearly confirmed the AAA of A-Type PAC’s and established their effective dosage levels of 36mg to 72mg per 24 hours. One of these studies performed at Rutgers University in 2017 with ENI’s Cranberex extract clearly affirmed this bacterial anti-adhesion effect for up to 12 hours based upon a 36mg dosage.4
A recently published meta-analysis that reviewed over 10 clinical studies also found that only cranberry extracts providing 36 to 72 mg of A-Type PAC’s showed significant benefit in supporting UTH.4
From field to finished product: Why a good cranberry harvest makes a difference
It’s now well-established that the A-Type PAC’s that are the source of AAA activity in cranberry, however these only exist at very low levels in the fruit. The published article ‘Cranberries and Their Bioactive Constituents in Human Health’ identified that A-Type PAC’s comprise only 133mg to 367mg per 100 grams of fruit.5
On a practical level, to achieve a level of 15% of these PAC’s therefore requires concentrations of around 150 to 200 times. Because of this, a strong harvest resulting in a stable cost of fruit makes big difference to the final extract cost.
Even with a good harvest, the cost of the high A-Type PAC extract is expensive. Why is it important to use them? From a clinical study viewpoint, they are the only types of extracts that provide the high-level of anti-adhesion activity required to effectively support UTH.
Cranberex, from ENI, is today one of the leading cranberry extracts to be standardized for high-level A-Type PAC’s and has built a strong following since its introduction 10 years ago. Amy McKelvey, Founder and CEO of Her Vital Way comments on this as it relates to her brand and supply chain: “Our core product at Her Vital Way is the high-level Cranberex cranberry extract”.
“We use this exclusively for a number of reasons: it’s correctly standardized to levels of active ‘A-Type PAC’s’ not the general PAC levels that many cranberry extracts use. It’s supported by two clinical studies and years of 100% reliable testing and supply behind it,” says McKelvey.
“It’s superior potency offers an effective 36mg of A-Type PAC’s per capsule. With our customer base of naturopathic physicians and informed consumers, we would never dream of offering a product without these specifications supported by clinical studies.”
Why high A-Type PAC extracts are import today
UTH support with clinically studied cranberry extracts is particularly significant as today UTI’s are the most common outpatient infections in the US. It’s estimated that they cause about 10.5 million doctor’s office visits each year, and particularly among the elderly can lead to hospitalization.6 As most of these cases are caused by bacteria, they are generally treated with lengthy or repeated cycles of antibiotics.
This has resulted in increases in antibiotic resistance that has alarmed health researchers both in the US and the EU.7 Because the anti-adhesion activity (AAA) of high-grade cranberry extracts doesn’t kill bacteria, but causes them to pass through the urinary tract, there is less chance of selection of resistant bacterial strains.7
The strong 2026 cranberry harvest, from Wisconsin to Oregon, continues to open the door to brands who seek the highest level of benefits for their customers, supporting their health and quality of life.
References
- Farm Progress. Wisconsin cranberry growers expect another big crop.
- Blumberg, JB.; et al. Cranberries and their bioactive constituents in human health. Adv Nutr. 2013 Nov 6;4(6):618-32.
- Howell, A.B.; et al. Bacterial Anti-Adhesion Activity of Human Urine: Cranberex® (Ethical Naturals). Rutgers University. Feb 2017.
- Xiong, Z.; et al. Preventive effect of cranberries with high dose of proanthocyanidins on urinary tract infections: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in Nutrion. 2024.
- Medina, M.; et al. An introduction to the epidemiology and burden of urinary tract infections. Ther Adv Urol. 2019 May 2;11:1756287219832172.
- Jangid, H.; et al. Cranberry-derived bioactives for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections: antimicrobial mechanisms and global research trends in nutraceutical applications. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025; 12:1502720.
