Kennedy Hosts Cranberry Meeting Between Hawthorne and Glickman

3/28/00 Ocean Spray Press Release -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman promised a quick response today to a request by H. Robert Hawthorne, president and CEO Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and other Massachusetts lawmakers that the federal government move to alleviate the cranberry surplus.

Kennedy arranged a meeting that included Secretary Glickman, Hawthorne, top Agriculture Department staff, and Massachusetts Reps. Barney Frank and James McGovern. Later, Hawthorne discussed the issue with William Delahunt, D-Mass., David Obey, D-Wisc., Senator Gordon Smith, R-Ore., Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wisc., and Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J.

Hawthorne, on behalf of the cranberry industry, requested quick action by USDA to put into place a plan to reduce cranberry production to cut the oversupply. He also requested that the Department buy $75 million worth of cranberry products, such as juice, sauce, and dried cranberries.

"I am deeply grateful for the strong support from Senator Kennedy and our Massachusetts delegation, as well as from members representing other cranberry growing states," Hawthorne said after the meeting. "I also appreciate the keen interest shown by Secretary Glickman and his senior staff in seeking solutions to the problems facing the industry."

Glickman said the department was aware of the problem and was looking at a variety of programs that could help deal with the surplus and pledged to respond quickly to an industry request to mandate a production cut. The Department of Agriculture has been looking at opportunities to use cranberry products in a variety of commodity and food distribution programs such as those for the elderly, children and other at-risk populations.

The next step is a meeting Thursday of the Cranberry Marketing Committee, a federally-authorized panel that advises the Secretary on cranberry industry issues and which will consider a marketing order to curb production.

Hawthorne expressed optimism that the committee will recommend the order, which could be implemented by the secretary in time for this year’s growing season.

"I am hopeful that a decision will be reached early enough so that growers can adjust their practices to minimize costs for this growing season," Hawthorne said.