It’s that time of year when light volume in cranberry shipments is getting underway leading up Thanksgiving in late November.
The USDA predicts there will be 1 percent more loadings this season compared to a year ago.
U.S. total cranberry production is forecast at 9.04 million (100-pound) barrels, up 1% from 8.93 million barrels in 2018, according to the forecast.
In Wisconsin, a cold, wet spring put the crop one to two weeks behind normal, but warmer temperatures in July helped the crop catch up. Wisconsin is the leading state for cranberry shipments, with 2019 output forecast at 5.6 million barrels, up about 1% from a year ago.
In Massachusetts, some growers reported excessive moisture, but production was pegged slightly above 2018. Massachusetts is the second ranked leading shipper of cranberries, with 2019 output of 2.3 million barrels, compared with 2.29 million barrels a year ago.