Vaccinium have been identified [1], and there are 18 identified species in the flora of British Columbia, Canada [2]. Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton, commonly known as "large cranberry", is a diploid (2 n = 24) native of the northeastern USA, bred through agricultural selection and grown as a commercial crop in the lower mainland of British Columbia [3]. Vaccinium oxycoccos L., (2 n = 24, 48, 72) commonly known as "small cranberry" or "bog cranberry", and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., (2 n = 24) commonly known as "rock cranberry" or "northern mountain cranberry" in North America and "lingonberry" in Europe, are all found in native populations across North America and Europe including widespread natural populations in the coastal and mountainous regions of British Columbia [1, 2, 4-6]. Cranberries have had important roles in the traditional health and culture of indigenous people across North America as well as modern uses in the natural health products industry. Although Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. is taxonomically closer to the bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus L., than it is to the cranberry species, in traditional practices, the natives essentially treated and used V. vitis-idaea in the same way as the V. oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon species [7-9]. Traditionally, V. macrocarpon berries were gathered from August through the fall, even when still unripe, allowed to ripen and then eaten either fresh or cooked [8]. Moerman reported the use of wild V. macrocarpon by the Algonquin, Chippewa, Ojibwa, and Iroquois in baked, dried, and raw foods, mixed with corn breads, and sold or traded for other commodities [10]. Several uses of V. oxycoccos by the indigenous people of northern Canada have been described including consumption of fresh berries, berries
