Contact: Holly Herline– (715) 423-2070
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – Wisconsin’s cranberry growers are expecting a 4.9-million-barrel crop in 2024, based on a recent USDA National Agriculture Statistic Services (NASS) crop production report. If the projections stay on course, Wisconsin will remain the largest cranberry producer in the world, growing and harvesting approximately 61 percent of the nation’s supply.
The USDA NASS forecast, based on grower surveys, marks the 30th year that Wisconsin has led the nation in cranberry production. The other largest cranberry growing states and their 2024 crop size projections are: Massachusetts at 2.2 million barrels; New Jersey at 580,000 barrels, and Oregon at 560,000 barrels. In total, the U.S. crop is expected to be 8.24 million barrels, according to the USDA NASS. Wisconsin’s final 2023 crop came in at 5.47 million barrels.
“Wisconsin is a global leader in cranberry production, generating $1 billion in state economic impact and providing thousands of local jobs across Wisconsin, and we are proud to continue that tradition in 2024,” said Grant Holley, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. “Weather has been the prominent challenge for our crop this year, and while we are down slightly from year’s past, it is the knowledge and dedication of our growers that has kept us from an even worse one.”
Named in 2004, this year marks cranberries’ 20th anniversary as Wisconsin’s official State Fruit. Wisconsin cranberries are the state’s number one fruit crop both in terms of size and economic value.
“Our 250+ multigenerational family farmers are hard at work preparing for harvest season, and will soon have another crop of cranberries ready for tables across the U.S. and around the world,” said Holley
Wisconsin cranberries are grown on 21,000 acres across 20 counties in central and northern regions of the state. Approximately five percent of this year’s crop will be sold as fresh fruit, and the remaining cranberries will be frozen and stored for longer-term sales as frozen berries, dried cranberries, juices, sauces and more. Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest typically begins in late September and runs until mid-October.
WSCGA was founded in 1887 and is committed to developing and implementing programs that will assist growers in doing a better job of growing cranberries and strengthening the public support for the industry in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.wiscran.org, Like WSCGA on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram.
Please find a collection of harvest photos here: https://laughlin.box.com/s/83hwrfq04bb1lnffhkytf7oe3bjqumnx
