Which state produces the most cranberries

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The U.S. harvest season for cranberries runs from around mid-September until the end of October, just in time for Thanksgiving. Total U.S. production of cranberries in 2021 is forecast for 7.9 million barrels, up less than 1 percent from last year. In three of the four top cranberry-producing States—Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Oregon—output is expected to increase slightly from last year. Wisconsin, the largest producer of cranberries in the United States, grew roughly 59 percent of the crop in 2020. Production in this State is expected to increase 1 percent from 2020 to 4.7 million barrels in 2021. In Massachusetts and Oregon, production volumes are forecast at 2.1 and 0.6 million barrels, respectively, representing slight net increases. In contrast, 2021 output is forecast to decrease in New Jersey; however, this decline is more than offset by gains in other States. Production of cranberries has gradually increased since 1990 as consumption has expanded from seasonal to year-round. This increase is driven in part by the rise in cranberries used in processing (mainly for juice and juice blends). This chart is drawn from Economic Research Service’s Fruit and Tree Nut Outlook, September 2021.

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Wisconsin was the top cranberry producer in the United States in 2021, at about 4.17 million barrels, followed by Massachusetts with 1.8 million barrels of cranberries in that year. In the United States, cranberries are often consumed dried or in sauces.

Cranberry production in North America

Cranberries are unlike most fruits in that they flourish in swamps and marshes. They do well in the climate of the northern United States as well as southeastern Canada. In 2021, some 353.7 thousand tons of cranberries were produced in the United States, up from 328 thousand tons in 2007. Canada is also a major producer of cranberries worldwide, but to a smaller degree than the United States.

Fruit consumption in the United States

Fruit is a very popular snack among American consumers. In 2019, the average American consumed about 323 pounds of fruit per year, which includes fresh, dried, canned, and frozen fruit. Though, much to the detriment of public health in America, the per capita consumption of fruit has decreased significantly since the year 2000. The most popular fruits among consumers in the United States are bananas, apples, grapes, and strawberries.

Introduction

Of all the fruits only three are native to North America, the cranberry is one of them. It is a perennial crop grown commercially in man-made wetlands or bogs in primarily five states in the U.S. Americans consume nearly 400 million pounds of cranberries per year, 20 percent of them during Thanksgiving week. The U.S. per capita consumption of cranberries is 2.3 pounds, almost entirely in the form of juice or juice blends. Cranberries are at the top of the list of healthy foods. Besides being high in vitamin C, manganese and fiber, cranberries are rich in phyto-nutrients (naturally derived plant compounds), particularly proanthocyanidin antioxidants, which are essential for all-round wellness.

Marketing

Cranberries, once traditionally consumed seasonally with holiday turkeys, are now consumed year round in processed forms. Fresh market cranberries are stored following harvest until it is time to package and ship berries out for the U.S. holiday market. Only about 5 percent of cranberries produced in the U.S. are sold fresh and the remaining 95 percent are processed, most commonly for juice and juice blends. Most cranberry growers sell their production on contract. A handful of companies purchase cranberries directly from growers. Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray accounts for about 80 percent of raw cranberry purchases. Other handlers include Northland Cranberries, Inc., Wisconsin; Decas Cranberry Products, Massachusetts; Clement Pappas & Company, Inc., New Jersey; and Cliffstar Corporation, New York.

Production

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Board, the forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2017 was forecast to be down 6 percent from 2016, with a total of 9.54 million barrels harvested or approximately 905 million pounds. Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries, producing 62 percent of the U.S crop in 2017. Other leading cranberry producing states include Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. (USDA NASS 2020).  The total acres of cranberries harvested in 2016 was 41,500, with average yield per acre of 11.5 tons, ranging from 5.45 to nearly 14.4 tons per acre. The total value of the utilized U.S. cranberry production was $292.29 million, 92 percent of the value coming from processed cranberries. Domestically, the cranberry industry is dominated by a handful of grower/processors. Ocean Spray, one of the oldest grower-owned cooperative in the United States, represents over 600 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington as well as producers in British Columbia and Quebec, Canada, and Chile. 

Prices

The price per 100-pound barrel in 2019 averaged $66.80 for fresh cranberries and $27.40 per 100-pound barrel for processed cranberries, respectively (USDA NASS 2020).

Sources

Cranberry Highlights. 2016. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

National Retail Report – Specialty Crops. Issued weekly by the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service.

Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2020 Summary. 2020 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

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