Cranberry Acreage – A Changing of the Guard

Figure C.1 shows harvested acreage trends for cranberries in Massachusetts and for the U.S. Massachusetts has long been one of the major cranberry producing states. Massachusetts harvested 63 percent of the total U.S. acreage in 1961. By 2006, Massachusetts's share of harvested acreage had fallen to 36 percent. Massachusetts's cranberry acreage has remained fairly constant over time, reflecting land constraints our growers face. Harvested acreage increased just 10 percent through the 1980s, and by just 12 percent during the 1990s. U.S. acreage, on the other hand, has increased dramatically, by 20 percent in the 1980s and 32 percent during the 1990s. Figure C.2 shows one of the major changes that has occurred in U.S. cranberry production. Wisconsin has emerged as the top cranberry producing state. Wisconsin increased its cranberry acreage by 31 percent during the 1980s and by 61 percent through the 1990s. (Fun Facts!)