Wisconsin once again will be the nation’s leader in cranberry production this year. That’s great for Western Wisconsin, and the entire state.
It also is enough evidence to support the industry’s cry for expansion in the region. Cranberry growers have petitioned the Department of Natural Resources to expedite the water quality certification process so Wisconsin can get a jump on expansion over Canada.
Growers would like to expand operations by 28 percent, which could mean more than 1,100 jobs in the state.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a general permit for the expansion, but each cranberry operation wishing to expand stills need a water quality certification from the DNR which regulates the impacts to state wetlands.
No specific lands have been identified by the cranberry industry, but officials said most of the expansion would likely take place in central and western Wisconsin and not impact wetlands. The expansion could involve dozens of growers.
This is big business. Ocean Spray is completing a $50 million facility for its Craisins product in Wisconsin Rapids. The company has invested more than $200 million in the state over the last six years.
“We’ll go where the fruit is but we’re prepared to make the investment here,” said Randy Papadellis, president and chief operating officer of Ocean Spray.
The call for expansion comes when demand for cranberry products is soaring. Health studies that laud the potential benefits of the berries is one driving reason for the demand. International demand also has increased rather dramatically.
Also, Wisconsin is looking at a great year for the crop. The nation and Wisconsin are expected to have their second-largest cranberry harvests ever this fall, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported recently.
The nation’s cranberry crop is forecast at 6.89 million barrels, up 5 percent from 2007 and slightly below the record set in 2006. A barrel weighs 100 pounds.
Wisconsin is expected to lead the nation in cranberry production for the 14th consecutive year. The state’s cranberry crop is forecast at 3.85 million barrels, slightly above 2007 but 2 percent less than in 2006.
The cranberry industry, like any industry, has impacts on the environment. It takes a lot of water to raise the crop.
Environmentalists have some concerns that expansion of bogs and other facilities for cranberries will negatively affect sensitive wetlands and degrade water quality.
Certainly, their concerns have to be considered. Yet, cranberry growers are, by the very nature of the business they chose, generally good stewards of their bogs, the environment in which those bogs grow and water quality. If they are not, their business won’t thrive.
So, expeditious, yet thorough, certification by the DNR is needed to allow safe, clean expansion of the bogs.
“Agriculture is a huge part of our economy and cranberry growers are an important part of it,” said Lee Sensenbrenner, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle, who has met with cranberry industry representatives.
“We want to work with them and maintain a high environmental standard and at the same time look at ways to streamline the administrative burden to help them make an investment here.”
Interestingly, in some areas of western and central Wisconsin, the expansion of cranberries could help supplant job losses by the paper industry — an industry that overall is much harder on water quality and the overall environment.
“I think it’s great news not only for our region but for the state as well,” Kelly Lucas, president of the Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County, told the Wisconsin State Journal. “The other opportunities that come as a result has significant potential.”
