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2000 U.S. CRANBERRY PRODUCTION DOWN 13 PERCENT Massachusetts: Cranberry production in Massachusetts total 1.85 million barrels in 2000, one percent below the previous year's output. Growers harvested 13,900 acres, 1,100 fewer acres than the previous year, and the smallest acreage harvested in the state since 1994. The 7 percent reduction in harvested acreage was offset by an 8 barrel per acre increase in average yield to 133.1 barrels per acre. The crop survived the mild winter with little damage, and very few insect problems were reported during the growing season. Most grower reports indicated good to excellent pollinating conditions and fruit set. Rainfall was plentiful in July, which promoted adequate sizing and eliminated the need for irrigation at many locations. Reservoir levels were in good shape as harvest began in mid-September. Growers reported excellent harvest conditions and berry color, with root rot and fruitworm damage at some locations. Utilized cranberry production is expected to total 1.8 million barrels, with an estimated 50,000 barrels disposed of due to market restrictions. In 2000, the cranberry industry agreed to a producer allotment regulation in response to the dramatic drop in berry prices in 1999. The program was administered by the Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC), and assigned growers production quotas based on previous years' sales. The quotas restricted how much fruit a grower could sell, and applied to all five of the major cranberry producing states. The purpose of the regulation was to reduce the number of cranberries sold, with the intention of eventually raising the price cranberry growers receive. At the request of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, a preliminary 2000 cranberry price was estimated for the state of Massachusetts in January, 2001. The preliminary price per barrel is based on handlers expectations in early December, and averaged $20.30 per barrel. The next price per barrel update for 2000 crop cranberries will be published for all states in the Cranberries report, which is tentatively scheduled for release on August 21, 2001. United States - Five Major States: The nation's cranberry crop totaled 5.5 million barrels in 2000, 13 percent below 1999's production. Wisconsin production fell 19 percent below 1999 output, however it continues to be the largest producing state with 2.7 million barrels produced in 2000. United States harvested acreage totaled 36,600 acres in 2000, a reduction of 900 acres from the previous years. Fewer acres in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington were partially offset by increased acreage in Wisconsin and Oregon. U.S. yield averaged 151.3 barrels per acre, 10 percent below 1999's high yielding crop average. Maine: According to Charles Armstrong, Cranberry Associate, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine's 2000 cranberry production soared to over 9,000 barrels. Weather conditions were good for cranberries during the 2000 growing season, and many of the bogs were beginning to reach their full potential as they continued to mature. Maine's statewide average yield was 65.5 barrels per acre. This report is taken from the national Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts - Preliminary Summary report published by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service at 3 pm on January 23, 2001. The Cranberries report is issued annually at 1:00 pm on the third Tuesday in August. It contains revised statistics of last year's acreage, yield, and production, as well as the production forecast of the upcoming harvest. =========================================================== New England Agricultural Statistics Service - - - a field office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service United States Department of Agriculture Aubrey R. Davis, Director Phone: (603) 224-9639 22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor Fax: (603) 225-1434 PO Box 1444 Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/ Concord, NH 03302-1444 E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov =========================================================== Cranberries January 30, 2001 The following is an abbreviated version of the report. The entire document is available as a PDF file on the Internet through: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nh/ =========================================================== A special "THANK YOU" goes to Massachusetts Cranberry growers and handlers who have helped us by completing cranberry surveys throughout the year. |