The Griffith family has been growing cranberries since 1902. I am a third generation grower. I have been through three major cranberry surplus situations. The present surplus situation is the worst that I have experienced.
Present day fixed costs are much higher than past years.
Our cost of tools for growing has reached all-time highs. The surplus of fruit has lowered our dollar returns to levels that make it impossible to mainitain our farm even at a basic level. We no longer can have employees except a minimum at harvest time. We take no salary or funds from the farm for living expenses. Since cranberries are a perennial crop, the inability to maintain the bogs places a cloud over all the past investment in the farm.