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Cranberry producers, lawmakers seek USDA purchase

Cranberry producers dealing with a bumper crop and low prices are hoping the USDA can help.

A letter from eight U.S. Senators and nine Members of Congress is asking Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to use Section 32 non-taxpayer dollars to buy cranberry products for school and food assistance programs.

That’s been done before, and Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association Executive Director Tom Lochner hopes USDA does it again.  “First of all, it puts healthy cranberry products into those programs where people of need are, and we think that’s an important item, and we think the purpose of the program is to do just that.  We’re also supportive of the purchase to help address some of the inventory problems that we have.”

Lochner tells Brownfield they hope to see USDA purchase three types of cranberry products. “Cranberry sauce is one.  Dried cranberries is another product in which schools are very interested in utilizing.  Also, there’s a cranberry juice concentrate.”

Lochner says the industry is doing what they can, investing in new products and new markets as their ability to produce fruit has outpaced their ability to market it.  He says between 35 and 40 percent of the crop is exported.

Lochner says USDA has been buying 30-to-50 million dollars’ worth of cranberry products for the past four years.

Secretary Vilsack authorized 20-million dollars in cheddar cheese purchases under the same program this fall to help dairy producers who are struggling with low prices.

The letter to Secretary Vilsack was signed by the following elected officials: 

Senator Tammy Baldwin

Senator Robert P. Casey Jr.

Senator Elizabeth Warren

Senator Robert Menendez

Senator Cory A. Booker

Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley

Senator Patty Murray

Senator Ron Wyden

Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III

Representative William R. Keating

Representative James P. McGovern

Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler

Representative Stephen F. Lynch

Representative Thomas MacArthur

Representative Peter DeFazio

Representative Derek Kilmer

Representative Ron Kind