Cranberry Stressline Archives

December, 2001

Articles in Globe and Ledger about Edaville derailment; Editorial - No more ocean spray for Cranberry World - Is it a sweetheart deal with Doug Beaton?  Northland Cranberries, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2001 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results.  Ocean Spray Cranberry World to leave Plymouth;Q and A: "Curious OS grower" questions John Swendrowski;  Ocean Spray's Jim Nolan Honored includes picture of Tom Bullock; Strong sales for white juice; Northland signing new growers; Editorial on change in white cranberry label: The White Cranberry Label Fable; Summary of CMC Cranberry Retrospective: Cranberry utilization up, production and ending inventory down; Story of Cape Verdean cranberry workers is feature article in Sunday Standard Times "Living"

 

 

Quote on the Enron bankruptcy:

"The ripple effect of problems with these contracts could be far-reaching, as Enron had deals with companies as diverse as Ocean Spray Cranberries -- for $116 million over a 10-year period-- to computer giant IBM--for $610 million. More recent contracts were signed with firms such as pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly -- valued at $1.3 billion over a 15-year period and with retailer JC Penney -- worth $600 million." Dec. 10, 2001 issue of Natural Gas Week.


Injured State Police Lieutenant
suggests possible cover-up at
Edaville USA

12/27/01: More publicity on Edaville: No. 1 and No. 2

Edaville admits to 3 derailments:

"When a railroad car jumped the tracks at Edaville Railroad last month, the amusement park's operators said it was a fluke. When it happened again, eight days later, they said nothing."  From Page One of Sunday's Boston Globe South Weekly

Ed: Note: The above article was the top, across the page headline, in the Boston Globe South Weekly. The headline read "Edaville Officials now admit to 3 derailments" and the front page article also had a color picture of Lisa Barry, one of the riders claiming to have been injured. On the  page eight continuation there was a black and white photo of Mrs. Barry and her five children captioned "Lisa Barry and her children (names listed) sustained minor injuries when an Edaville train derailed."

Article from the Patriot Ledger, 12/24/01 - Edaville acknowledges 3 train derailments: First accident happened last December; latest occurred 3 weeks ago

Edaville message board deletes messages that weren't "upbeat and constructive:" Read posting from their webmaster here.

Relate link: Edaville message board

Editorial

No more ocean spray for Cranberry World
Is it a sweetheart deal with Doug Beaton?

12/15/01 The decision to move Ocean Spray's showcase museum from its prime location on the tourist strip of "American's Hometown," Plymouth, Massachusetts, is short-sighted and demonstrates a lack of confidence in the cooperative's turn-around. CONTINUED |

12/17/01 See additional comment on Forum

Read  entire Northland Annual Report

Northland Cranberries, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2001 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial Results.

12/14/01 PR Newswire -- Northland Cranberries, Inc.  manufacturer of Northland brand 100% juice cranberry blends and Seneca brand fruit juice products, today reported fiscal 2001 fourth quarter and year-end financial results for the periods ended August 31, 2001. CONTINUED | Details of NL $26 mil. loan


Ocean Spray Cranberry World to leave Plymouth

12/13/01 Cranberry World, Ocean Spray Visitors' Center and museum has been located on the waterfront in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts, for more than 24 years. In a press release issued today the company announced that Cranberry World will be moving to Edaville, USA, a 2,000 acre theme park in Carver which is owned by, among others, Douglas Beaton, a former board member of Ocean Spray. Edaville features a 5.5 small gauge train ride through working cranberry bogs on the site. It has been

Q & A

"Curious OS grower" questions John Swendrowski

12/14/01 From time to time a question and answer, or a debate, on the Stressline Forum, which only holds 300 responses before they're deleted, is transferred to the less ephemeral front page because it is newsworthy. We believe this is the case with this Q&A between an anonymous poster and the CEO of Northland Cranberries. CONTINUED

the location of the Cape Cod Cranberry Grower's Association Cranberry Harvest Festival. In its new location, Cranberry World will be managed by the operators of Edaville.

Cranberry World was originally located in the old cooperative headquarters building which was leased by Ocean Spray. Several years ago Ocean Spray purchased and made extensive renovations to a 5,000 square foot building on the Plymouth rotary across the street from the harbor. (Harbor view from Cranberry World)

Cranberry World opened in the new building in June two years ago. They are putting that building up for sale. (See Ocean Spray web site.)

Cranberry World employs about 25 part-time seasonal workers and has one full-time position. Ocean Spray also operates the Cranberry House, a gift shop on the Plymouth waterfront. The gift shop will remain open.

Marguerite Copel, vice president of corporate communications and public affairs states in the release: "Cranberry World and Edaville are a natural combination. By bringing together these two venerable institutions, we're giving a new generation of visitors an opportunity to enjoy what Edaville and Cranberry World have offered for many decades." Beaton said: "We are excited to welcome Cranberry World. Edaville has grown through many phases to become one of the largest and most well-recognized family destinations in New England. Education our visitors about the history of cranberry agriculture in Massachusetts is one of our goals in preserving the heritage of our cranberry plantation and family fun park."


 

Boston Globe: Cranberry museum heads to Edaville.

From Beverage World, 11/30/01 Ocean Spray votes to remain independent

CORRECTION:  12/13/01: Stressline regrets the confusion regarding the following chart which was part of the CMC 2000 Crop Year Retrospective. This chart was not produced by the Cranberry Marketing Committee. We neglected to copy the source, which is the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, not the CMC.
Price per Barrel by State from 1995 - 2000

NEW: 12/12/01 On the Ocean Spray discrimination lawsuit

Cranberries: Antioxidants Behind the Tartness from Environmental Nutrition

Northland Meeting for potential new growers  scheduled for Dec. 20

Interesting: Arrogance root of woes at Coke

12/10/01 Press Release Whole Fruit Supplements Made with Berries Offer Health Benefits

12/10/01 Third quarter Food Institute report on cranberry juice sales

12/701 Cranberry grower gets good press

USDA suspends Spanish Clementine imports

From The Produce News
Print Edition: Dec. 10, 2001
The Produce News is also online at
www.producenews.com

Republished with Permission

Ocean Spray's Jim Nolan Honored

by Bill Martin

Photo left: Jim Nolan with Tom Bullock, former president and chief executive officer of Ocean Spray (Click image to enlarge).

SANDWICH, MA. Jim Nolan, believed by many to be the foremost expert on fresh cranberry marketing, was roasted and toasted at a Nov. 26 retirement dinner party here, at the Dan'l Webster Inn. On Dec 20, the domestic and international sales manager of fresh fruit for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. will complete his 25th and final season with the cooperative. CONTINUED

 

Summary of CMC Cranberry Retrospective: Cranberry utilization up, production and ending inventory down
by Hal Brown
Correction added 12/13/01

12/10/01 The Cranberry Marketing Committee has published its 2000 Crop Year Retrospective. The tables, charts and graphs show that, compared to 1999, beginning inventories were up, domestic and foreign production were down, utilization was up and the ending inventory was down. CONTINUED

Strong sales for white juice
But Ocean Spray says it won't save cranberry growers

By Julie Jette
The Patriot Ledger
Republished with permission

12/6/01 -- LAKEVILLE - Ocean Spray's great white hope appears to be living up to expectations, and some local stores can't keep it on their shelves. Ocean Spray says the sales are good, but the product alone won't reverse the falling fortunes of the cranberry industry... CONTINUED

12/6/01 The question of the health claims about white cranberry juice

Northland signing new growers

12/5/01 In an "Open letter to Wisconsin and Oregon growers" Northland cranberries is expressing interest in signing new growers.. CONTINUED |

Ocean Spray grapefruit news

12/10/01 DNE, the company hurt by the recent ban on clementine imports due to the medfly, plans to have cross-promotions with Ocean Spray grapefruit juice, aimed at grapefruit dieters. From: The Packer

 

Editorial

The White Cranberry Label Fable

 

Ocean Spray finally changes the label:

Click image to enlarge

Scroll down or click here for editorial.

The Third Time's a Charm

We know what you're thinking ...how can this be cranberry juice? It isn't even red! But just wait until you taste it. This revolutionary new juice drink has the healthy goodness of traditional cranberry juice...without the tartness. It's milder, smoother and oh, so drinkable. We made it with white cranberries...that's right, white cranberries. From Ocean Spray's first harvest of the season. Try the new less tart taste of Ocean Spray White Cranberry Juice Drinks, we're sure you'll want to enjoy them again and again.

Original Ocean Spray White Cranberry Juice Drink Label

Introducing the revolutionary, smooth new taste of new Ocean Spray White cranberry Juice Drink! You've never tasted cranberry like this before! White cranberry juice drink is made with white cranberries. These all natural, fully ripened, white cranberries come from the first harvest of the season so they're milder than traditional red cranberries. Yet you still get the healthy goodness from cranberries. Try some today...you'll just love the smooth, new, less tart taste.

Ocean Spray White Cranberry Juice Drink Label (10/8/01)

We know what you're thinking...how can this be cranberry juice? It isn't even red! But just wait until you taste it. This revolutionary new juice drink has the healthy goodness of traditional cranberry juice...without the tartness. It's milder, smoother and oh, so drinkable because its made from white cranberries--that's right, white cranberries. These fully-ripened cranberries come from Ocean Spray's first harvest of the season--so they have a less tart taste that you'll want to enjoy again and again.

Editorial: 12/5/01 Ocean Spray has changed the label of its White Cranberry Juice for, as far as our count goes, at least the third time. Finally they have heeded the admonitions expressed in Stressline as far back as August (see archives). In September we wrote in an editorial entitled "Changing the Label of White Cranberry Juice: There's no worse stain than when it's on the reputation and credibility of a trusted company:"

Unless they can prove there is a cultivar of fully ripened white cranberries, Ocean Spray has to change the label of white cranberry juice before it's too late. They have been walking with blinders on straight into a consumer relations mine field. Worse, they will be treading into a gray area of business ethics, and opening the door to FTC intervention on truth in labeling violations.

This issue has nothing to do with the fact that I believe it is a mistake to spend so much money on a high risk venture. If they don't change their label and they garner bad publicity because they are forced by the FTC to change it, it will hurt the rollout and the image of the entire company.

We went on to say that "Ocean Spray must be above reproach. It must not appear to be foisting off an early harvested, mature but not fully ripened cranberry as a new variety on unsuspecting and trusting consumers. Again, this will harm its own reputation as the premier cranberry company and damage the reputation of the entire cranberry industry."

Stressline believed that unless Ocean Spray brought the label into line with the truth, it would be the subject of litigation or regulatory action. There were two easily proven lies on the first label. The first and most obvious was that the juice was made from fully ripened white cranberries. The second stated that because they came from the first harvest of the season they were milder than traditional red cranberries. Terms like mild and tart may subjective, but if a jury were asked to taste a white berry and a fully ripe red berry, their subjective opinion would be given great weight in their deliberations.

Ocean Spray proved how easy a complete label change was when they introduced a second label in October. However, although rewritten, the text conveyed the same untruth.

Finally, Ocean Spray has produced a label that we believe is accurate. The words fully and ripened are nowhere to be seen. It no longer states that "it's milder, smoother, and oh so drinkable because it's made from white cranberries." Instead it simply says "it's milder, smoother, and oh so drinkable" period. The last paragraph, a total falsehood on the second label, read: "These fully-ripened cranberries come from Ocean Spray's first harvest of the season--so they have a less tart taste that you'll want to enjoy again and again." Now it reads, honestly:

" Try the new less tart taste of Ocean Spray White Cranberry Juice Drinks, we're sure you'll want to enjoy them again and again."

How easy it would have been to make these changes in October when they changed the label for the first time. Stressline may never learn the reasons these changes were put off for so long, or why they were finally made. However, we have no objections to the new label, which we believe is 100% accurate. Print version

Note: Ocean Spray apparently can't quite decide exactly what color white cranberries are. Each label has depicted the berries in a lighter shade. See a comparison here.


Story of Cape Verdean cranberry workers is feature article in Sunday Standard Times "Living"

12/4/01 Ken Semedo looks across a Wareham cranberry bog in an eleven by seven inch color above the fold picture on the Sunday edition of the Living section of the New Bedford Standard Times (image) (Ed note: the paper doesn't put their Sunday edition online). A smaller picture below the fold shows the retired radioligical technician at home playing the piano. Semedo worked the cranberry bogs with other Cape Verdeans while growing up, and has authored a web site entitled The Story Must be Told - A Story of Cape Verdeans. The Standard Times article, by Hank Seaman, includes numerous quotes from Semedo, including the following: "The cranberry industry was a lifesaver for all those Cape Verdean immigrants - including my parents - who worked the cranberry bogs. Without cranberries we would have been lost.... I didn't realize how important that money was until relatively recently, when my mother's nieces and nephews visited America. They told me with tears in their eyes how that money helped them survive."

Semedo says he wants to pay homage to his people: "I want to pay back ... the give something back to Cape Verdeans everywhere. We must never forget our roots." He also says that relatively few photos exist of these early cranberry workers. (The article includes his email address: ulna@gis.net )


NEW: Profile of Jenkins family, Cape growers, in 11/27/01 Cape Cod Times.

Vintage postcard of M'boro grower Byron Bruffee, well known decoy artist, - sold on Ebay for $89.67.


Still under virus attack, Stressline back online

12/1/01 We were able to identify and quarantine the virus which shut down Stressline's computer today. It was the W32Badtrans.B@mm virus which, according to the Norton web site, is "a MAPI worm that emails itself out as one of several different file names. CONTINUED


November Edition

Beacon Hill Institute study: No Thanksgiving for the Massachusetts Cranberry Industry; Update on DeMarco lawsuit; Northland commercials take aim at Ocean Spray's cranberry content; Welch's goes on offensive in marketing challenge against cranberry: Ocean Spray focus of video clip
Affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Acquires Control of Northland Cranberries, Inc. as Part of a Successful Debt and Equity Restructuring; New Northland Board;
Northland no longer to be traded on NASDAQ, Northland Cranberries, Inc. Announces One-For-Four Reverse Stock Split to Facilitate a Potential Debt and Equity Restructuring Transaction; Editorial: Nantucket Nectars -- If you can't fix it, sell it