News

A little smaller cranberry crop this year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the U.S. cranberry crop will be 7.68 million barrels this year, down a little from the 7.7 million barrels last year but well above the 6.8 million in 2010.

An early spring and frost damage in Massachusetts the main reason for the slightly smaller production this year. Their crop is projected at 2.1 million barrels compared to 2.3 million in 2011.

Wisconsin, the nation’s largest producer had excellent pollination and minimal impact from the high temperatures leading to an estimated 4.5 million barrel crop compared to 4.4 million last year.

New Jersey producers expect 542,500 barrels this year, 31,500 more than last year.

The cool, wet weather in the Pacific Northwest has led to a 400,000 barrel crop in Oregon and 142,000 in Washington compared to 361,000 and 115,700 respectively in 2011.

The estimates are based upon grower surveys, final crop numbers will be gathered following the harvest.

Read the NASS estimates here: