Wisconsin Cranberry Harvest Underway

Saturday, October 11th, 2025 -- 9:00 AM

(Shereen Siewert, Wisconsin Public Radio) The familiar sight of ruby-red cranberries floating on flooded marshes is a hallmark of autumn in Wisconsin, where growers are now in the thick of harvest.

According to Shereen Siewert with the Wisconsin Public Radio, cranberries are Wisconsin’s state fruit and a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy. Wisconsin produces about 60 percent of the nation’s cranberries, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

University of Wisconsin figures show the industry contributes roughly $1 billion annually to the state’s economy. Much of that production takes place in central and northern Wisconsin, where sandy soils, wetlands and generations of farming knowledge converge to make the region ideal for cranberry cultivation.

In a conversation on WPR’s “Morning Edition,” Grant Holley, executive director of the growers association, said the crop’s roots run deep. “Cranberries and cranberry farming were here before Wisconsin was Wisconsin,” Holley said. “Even before Wisconsin was fully a state within our country, there were people here growing and commercially raising cranberries.”

That history continues to shape communities throughout the region, where cranberry marshes not only provide employment but also help preserve wetlands. Marshes are carefully engineered to recycle water for flooding, irrigation and frost protection.

During drought years, reservoirs allow growers to sustain crops without tapping municipal supplies. And when flooding occurs, growers often play a role in protecting surrounding communities by diverting water from storm systems.

The 2025 harvest has been complicated by weather conditions, Holley said. Hybrids that usually ripen in stages have matured at the same time this year, forcing farmers to work longer hours to bring in fruit before it spoils.

For some family farms, that means weeks of nonstop labor. Despite the pressures of weather and workforce shortages, the industry continues to thrive. Wisconsin’s cranberries are exported around the world, finding their way into juices, sauces, baked goods and holiday tables from Europe to Asia.

Demand remains steady, bolstered by cranberries’ reputation as a healthy, antioxidant-rich fruit. Holley said the resilience of the crop itself offers perspective. “Even with odd years, cranberries will survive because they’ve been here for so long,” he said.

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