Cranberry production has a long history in Massachusetts (MA) that adds important economic and aesthetic value to the region. About 30% of U.S. acreage and the two largest cranberry handler companies are located in Massachusetts. This crop has the highest farm gate value of any food crop in the Commonwealth, $99.8 million in 2012 (USDA, 2015). A study by Farm Credit East of Northeast agriculture estimated that, when accounting for employment on the farms, in supporting local businesses, and in the cranberry processing businesses that exist to use the fruit produced, the estimated value of the MA cranberry is $1.4 billion with 6,900 associated jobs in the region. These statistics support conducting the proposed research in MA but the information gained will be applicable to all cranberry production in the U.S. The University of Massachusetts maintains a research/outreach center in East Wareham with the mission of providing support to the MA cranberry industry via applied production research and extension. The faculty assigned to the Cranberry Station will be the project directors.
Hilary
Sandler
