Cranberries
     National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Released August 18, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on "Cranberries" call Howard Hill at (202)
720-7235, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
              1998 Cranberry Production Up 2 Percent
 
 
The forecast for the 1998 cranberry crop is 5.62 million barrels, up 2
percent from 1997's record large production and 20 percent more than
1996. Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington forecasted increases from a year
ago, Massachusetts remained unchanged, and New Jersey decreased.
 
Production in Wisconsin is forecast at a record high 2.40 million
barrels, 3 percent above 1997 and 21 percent above 1996. Increased
production is expected due to more acres for harvest. Water supply is
adequate and berry set ranged from good to excellent. However, some
growers reported damage from unfavorable winter conditions and hail.
 
The Massachusetts crop is forecast at 2.1 million barrels, unchanged
from the previous year but up 22 percent from 1996. Mild conditions last
winter followed by beneficial rains throughout the spring helped the
crop, except in areas where water sat in the fields too long and where
heavy flooding in June and July wiped out blossoms. Growers reported
bloom and set as average, with berry size reported as mostly medium, but
more rain is needed to maintain size. Insect and disease damage has been
relatively low.
 
New Jersey expects a crop of 570,000 barrels, 2 percent less than last
year but 22 percent more than 1996. Growers reported good pollination,
bee activity, and fruit set. Bloom and size of fruit were rated between
average and heavy. No significant weather damage was reported.
 
In Oregon, the crop is forecast at 375,000 barrels, 7 percent above last
year's crop and 20 percent above the 1996 crop. A cool, early spring and
above normal precipitation in May reduced pollination, but fruit set was
generally good. Cranberry acreage continues to increase and most fields
had good bloom which compensated for poor pollination. Growers rated
insect and disease problems as normal.
 
The Washington crop is forecast at 175,000 barrels, 6 percent above last
year but 3 percent less than 1996. Western Washington had another mild
winter and little or no frost damage. However, the spring was cool, wet,
and foggy. Some growers indicated unusually late bloom with weather
conditions less than favorable. Bloom was heavy in some areas, but few
reporters rated berry set as good. Some areas suffered damage from
insects.
 
Fr Nt 4 (8-98)
 
1997 Production Up 18 Percent; Value at a Record High for the Second Year
 
Production of cranberries in the United States in 1997 totaled 5.53
million barrels, up 18 percent from 1996. The area harvested, at 35,500
acres, increased 4 percent from the previous year and set a new record.
The average yield of 155.9 barrels per acre was 18.5 barrels above 1996.
The average price per barrel increased $2.00 from 1996 to $67.90. Value
of production increased to $376 million, 22 percent above last season's
record high.
 
 
 
              Cranberries:  Production by State and United States,
                           1996-97 and Forecasted 1998 1/
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                          Total Production
   State   :--------------------------------------------------------------------
           :         1996         :         1997         :         1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                              Barrels
           :
MA         :      1,722,000              2,100,000              2,100,000
NJ         :        467,000                580,000                570,000
OR         :        312,000                350,000                375,000
WA         :        180,000                165,000                175,000
WI         :      1,990,000              2,339,000              2,400,000
           :
US         :      4,671,000              5,534,000              5,620,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  A barrel weighs 100 lbs.
          Cranberries:  Area Harvested, Yield, Production, Utilization,
              Price, and Value by State and United States, 1996-97
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Year  :                 :      Yield      :            Production
   and  :      Area       :       per       :-----------------------------------
  State :    Harvested    :      Acre       :      Total      :    Utilized
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      Acres             ----------------- Barrels -----------------
        :
1996    :
  MA    :     14,200             121.3           1,722,000         1,722,000
  NJ    :      3,600             129.7             467,000           467,000
  OR    :      1,800             173.3             312,000           312,000
  WA    :      1,500             120.0             180,000           180,000
  WI    :     12,900             154.3           1,990,000         1,990,000
        :
  US    :     34,000             137.4           4,671,000         4,671,000
        :
1997    :
  MA    :     14,600             143.8           2,100,000         2,100,000
  NJ    :      3,700             156.8             580,000           580,000
  OR    :      2,000             175.0             350,000           350,000
  WA    :      1,500             110.0             165,000           165,000
  WI    :     13,700             170.7           2,339,000         2,339,000
        :
  US    :     35,500             155.9           5,534,000         5,534,000
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :               Utilization                :    Price    :   Value of
        :------------------------------------------:     per     :   Utilized
        :    Fresh    :  Processed   :Shrinkage 1/ :  Barrel 2/  :  Production
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   -------------- Barrels -------------       Dollars      1,000 Dols
        :
1996    :
  MA    :    70,000      1,628,000        24,000        70.90        122,090
  NJ    :                  461,000         6,000        61.80         28,861
  OR    :                  312,000                      60.50         18,876
  WA    :    20,000        160,000                      61.00         10,980
  WI    :   146,000      1,769,000        75,000        63.80        127,020
        :
  US    :   236,000      4,330,000       105,000        65.90        307,827
        :
1997    :
  MA    :    93,000      1,946,000        61,000        69.60        146,160
  NJ    :                  577,000         3,000        62.20         36,076
  OR    :                  350,000                      61.50         21,525
  WA    :    22,000        143,000                      61.50         10,148
  WI    :   110,000      2,095,000       134,000        69.20        161,837
        :
  US    :   225,000      5,111,000       198,000        67.90        375,746
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cranberries paid for by processors and lost because of dehydration and berry
    breakdown after delivery.
2/  Weighted average of co-op and independent sales.  Co-op prices represent
    pool proceeds excluding returns from non-cranberry products and before
    deductions for capital stock and other retains.
The next "Cranberries " report will be released in August 1999.
 
 
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