Action-Oriented Activity to Accompany Fouberg/ Human Geography: People, Place, and Culture, Canadian Edition
Chapter 2 Globalization and Geographies: Action-Oriented Activity—A “Berry” Good Business and Coca-Cola Goes Global
Introduction: In order to survive in today's competitive business world, corporations must constantly adapt to ever changing demographics, markets, preferences, trends, and technological innovations. One of the better examples of market adaptation is the story of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. This is a Fortune 400 company that made a $1.4 billion business out of a tiny, bitter berry. Compile a case study of the company by visiting Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. (
Part One:
Click on their "Interactive Timeline." List what key innovations occurred in the following years:
1930: ______
1939: ______
1942: ______
1951: ______
1952: ______
1963: ______
1977: ______
1981: ______
1993: ______
1995: ______
Part Two:
Read more about the cranberry by clicking “Cranberry History”: ( Complete the Cranberry Quiz.
1. True/False: Cranberries are a Native American fruit.
2. Why did sailors in colonial days keep cranberries on board their ships?
3. Cranberries grow well in what type of soil?
4. True/False: Cranberries grow in water.
5. How many states are major cranberry producers?
6. Which country in South America grows cranberries?
7. What is the average number of cranberries per pound?
8. What percentage of cranberries is consumed during Thanksgiving week?
9. What percentage of the world’s cranberries is sold by Ocean Spray?
10. True/False: Cranberries are quite suitable for wine making.
In summary, the cranberry industry is a good example of adaptation and innovation. Can you cite other industries that have had to adapt to change? In what ways have they adapted?
Another example of a company that has expanded due to globalization is Cola-Cola. Part of its website discusses the “heritage” or history of the Cola-Cola Company. Go to and watch the “Animated History of Coca-Cola” video. Also, look at the “125 Years of Sharing Happiness” PDF (
According to the video, in how many countries are Coca-Cola products found?
According to the PDF, how much Coca-Cola product is consumed every day?
According to the PDF, in what year did the first bottling plants appear outside of the United States? When was the first bottling plant founded in Asia and in Europe? When were the Coca-Cola Foreign Department and the Coca-Cola Export Corporation founded?
According to the PDF, how did Coca-Cola integrate itself into popular America culture?
According to the PDF, in what year did Coca-Cola associate itself with the Olympic Games? What role do you think this association played in the spread of Coca-Cola as a global product?
What do you think of the statement that “Coca-Cola really is the most famous trademark in the world”?
Why has Coca-Cola developed other products outside of its classic formula?