Cranberry expansion in Oregon South Oregon coast ready to make cranberries an even bigger part of local economy Oregon cranberry industry poised for expansion June 24, 1998. . . With the decline of the local timber economy, fishing, and other downtrodden industries, agriculture is poised to increase its value along the Southern Oregon Coast in the form of cranberries. An already healthy cranberry industry in Coos and Curry Counties is expected to expand despite potential limiting factors such as competition for water and urban growth. We've had a downturn in wood products and mining, both of which have impacted the Port of Coos Bay. We are looking for ways to diversify our economy.
Cranberries is a major portion of that.
Back in 1992, only about 1500 acres of cranberries were harvested in the state. In 1996, things picked up dramatically. About 1800 acres of cranberries were harvested with a yield of 17,330 pounds per acre. Projections for 1998 call for yet another record high with an estimated 2200 acres of cranberries expected to be harvested. That number could reach as high as 2400 acres by the turn of the century.