Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Experiencing A Glut
Sunday, November 11th, 2018 -- 8:20 AM
Wisconsin's cranberry growers would be grateful if you piled on an extra helping or two of cranberry relish on your plate this Thanksgiving.The Associated Press reports that the surplus of cranberries could result in about 25 percent of the national crop being dumped to protect growers’ prices.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized the industry to withhold a large portion of berries from the market so the supply will get back in balance with the demand.
Millions of pounds of the tart fruit could be used as fertilizer. Some of the glut could be donated to charities, or sold overseas in "non-competitive" markets, and some of it could be used as livestock feed.
Wisconsin is the nation’s leading cranberry producer, harvesting more than 60 percent of the country’s crop, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
The little red berry, Wisconsin’s official state fruit, is the state’s No. 1 fruit crop in volume and economic value.
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