Around New England

October Declared Cranberry Month In Massachusetts

October 15, 2024

Governor Maura Healey has declared October as “Massachusetts Cranberry Month” to highlight just how important the crop is to the state.

Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, local representatives, and cranberry farmers gathered at the Mayflower Cranberries Bog in Plympton to promote the purchase of locally grown cranberries and products on Tuesday, October 8, according to a press release from the state’s agriculture agency.

The initiative is designed to boost awareness and support for the state’s cranberry industry.

“Cranberry growing is an iconic part of our state’s agricultural history,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a written statement. “Our dedicated farmers engage in this labor of love year-round, using both wet and dry harvesting methods to boost our agricultural economy. Their commitment protects vital open spaces through responsible environmental stewardship. We will continue to support these essential farmers and this crucial Massachusetts crop to ensure a thriving future.”

Massachusetts has the longest history of growing cranberries in the United States, dating back nearly 400 years.

Currently, the state has more than 13,000 acres of commercial cranberry bogs, mostly in Plymouth County, Bristol County, and Barnstable County. Cranberries remain the top agricultural commodity in the state, responsible for more than 6,400 jobs and more than $1.7 billion in economic activity. Growers maintain more than 60,000 acres of open space, which benefits the state’s environment, the press release said.

“Few crops are as instantly recognizable and tied to Massachusetts as the mighty cranberry, so it’s only fitting that we celebrate this superfood in October when the harvest is at its peak,” state agricultural commissioner Ashley Randle said in the written statement. “As growing conditions become more volatile, it’s critical to provide our cranberry growers with resources that will allow them to adapt and thrive in a changing environment to ensure that our time-honored tradition of growing this ruby red fruit continues to flourish for future generations to enjoy.”

Since 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has awarded more than $5.6 million through the Massachusetts Cranberry Bog Renovation Enhancement Grant Program. These funds have been used to renovate more than 433 acres of cranberry bogs, helping farmers increase yields and improve production methods.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources continues to work with cranberry farmers and partners, including Massachusetts Cranberries and the UMass Cranberry Station in Wareham, to “to support best practices in water management and sustainable growing techniques that will help growers with climate resiliency and ensure that the sector will remain a staple and part of the agricultural landscape in the state in the face of unique 21st-century challenges,” the press release said.

“We are proud that the Healey-Driscoll administration has declared October as Cranberry Month,” said Brian Wick, executive director of Massachusetts Cranberries, in the written statement. “This proclamation recognizes the innovation and resourcefulness of our community of growers, as they continue to sustain their farms for future generations.”

Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry producer in the United States, behind Wisconsin. The country produced 7.62 million barrels of cranberries in 2023; Wisconsin produced 4.6 million of those, while Massachusetts produced 2 million. Other major cranberry states include New Jersey (550,000 barrels) and Oregon (470,000 barrels), according to World Population Review.

 

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