Early reports indicate that Massachusetts is expecting a good cranberry crop for 2026. “There hasn’t been anything too out of the ordinary weather-wise. We did get much-needed rain from a recent Nor’easter, which helped to fill some of the growers’ reservoirs and ease drought conditions,” says Karen Cahill, deputy executive director with the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. “Yet, we had a very hot and humid summer, which may cause issues with fruit quality.”
Harvest started right about the same time this year as it did last year in mid-September. That’s a bit earlier than the past few years. “The early varieties colored nicely, which is the signal to start harvesting. Growers are hopeful the other varieties will follow suit,” she says, noting that its farms are in southeastern Massachusetts, including the Cape and Nantucket. Harvest generally runs throughout October and it’s expected to finish as per usual, in the first week of November.
© Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association
On top of those long harvest days, October also means potentially sleepless nights as growers have to think about frost protection. “Growers watch the weather closely and if the temperatures drop below what the vines can tolerate, they will use their irrigation systems to protect the vulnerable fruit overnight,” adds Cahill.
While the full size of the crop won’t be known until harvest has wrapped up, generally, it was expected to be up slightly from last year’s crop. Early reports from growers indicate that things are on target. However they are just getting into the bulk of harvest now and the next few weeks will determine if those expectations are being met.
Along with harvesting this month, growers in the state are continuing to respond to the increasing interest in agritourism and are offering activities such as having visitors don waders and get into bogs. That’s proving to be an alternative source of revenue for growers.
Hopes for pricing strength
In terms of revenue, growers are hoping to see a higher price for their fruit this year. “Hopefully, the marketplace performs better than expected over the next year or more,” says Cahill.
This comes of course as growers of cranberries and many other commodities continue to contend with rising input costs, like fertilizer and fuel, which haven’t kept pace with the price received for their fruit. “They work on extremely tight margins in one of the most expensive areas to farm,” says Cahill, adding that other challenges for growers include workforce and regulatory challenges.
All of this is happening amidst a significant development at the UMass Cranberry Station and amongst growers in terms of using research and technology to help make cranberry farming more efficient and sustainable. “Many of our growers are taking on once-in-a-generation bog renovations, which involves planting new varieties and improving the overall efficiency of their centuries-old farms for generations to come,” says Cahill. “These renovations are supported by state programs, which is one example of how our state legislature and the Healey/Driscoll gubernatorial administration have been extremely supportive of cranberry agriculture in Massachusetts.”
She also notes that farms undergoing renovations will begin that work as soon as possible to beat the ground freezing over. “The work does not stop at harvest’s end either. Planning for next season begins almost immediately as the last truck of berries drives off to the receiving station,” she adds.
Karen Cahill
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association
Tel: +1 (508) 866-7878
https://www.cranberries.org/
