JOHN "PEG LEG" WEB, of Cassville, discovered in the late 1800's that good cranberries bounce down stairs, while rotten or damaged ones get hung up on the treads, This principle is still used today to sort out bad berries from sound ones.

TOM DARLINGTON, of New Lisbon, developed a widely-used mechanical picker for dry-picking fresh fruit. Rotating teeth scoop berries off the vines, and the berries then ride a conveyor belt up to a container attached to the machine.

ELIZABETH LEE, of New Egypt, developed the first canned cranberry sauce and was one of the founders of the Ocean Spray cooperative.

THE PHILIP E. MARUCCI CENTER FOR BLUEBERRY & CRANBERRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION in Chatsworth is home to the leading cranberry breeding program in the world. Other important contributions to the cranberry industry include health research, a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management program and testing of new, more environmentally friendly pesticides.