Karen Sparrow, a farmer at Sparrow Farm in Pittston, Maine, reports an unprecedented volume of cranberries over her two decades of farming across 3.5 acres. Similarly, Harry Ricker of Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner, an hour east, observes notably large berries maturing earlier than typical across his 10-acre operation. Both attribute this year's improved harvest prospects to more favorable conditions compared to the previous year, which saw reduced yields due to a late frost in May followed by prolonged heavy rainfall. Despite cranberries being cultivated in Maine since the 1800s, they are less recognized compared to the state's abundant wild blueberries. However, this year's conditions hint at a promising harvest, contrasting the challenges Maine growers face, including heightened competition, climate-induced heavier rainfalls, and increased extreme heat days.
The Maine Climate Council notes the past four years rank among the state's top ten warmest, alongside an increase in heavy precipitation days and shorter winters, all of which pose risks to cranberry cultivation. Cranberries, which cease growth in extreme heat and can rot or attract insects if the ground remains too wet, rely on cold winters for a protective ice cover.
Maine, with 15 cranberry farms covering 90 acres, has seen a reduction from 40 farms and 270 acres in 2003, according to Charles Armstrong, a cranberry specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. This decrease is attributed to competitive and price pressures, exemplified by Cherryfield Foods' exit from the cranberry business in 2015 due to unsustainable prices. Armstrong highlights the challenges of low yields and prices, alongside generational shifts in farm ownership, prompting some farms to diversify. For instance, Ricker Hill Orchards has expanded into hard ciders and wines.
Regarding cultivation, cranberries grow on low shrubs and trailing vines. Market prices vary, with organic, dry-picked berries fetching the highest price per pound. Dry picking, a method that allows berries to maintain quality until the following April, contrasts with flooding methods that yield berries primarily for juice production at lower market prices.
Maine ranks sixth in U.S. cranberry production, trailing behind states like Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Efforts to rejuvenate the market began in 1989 with the Maine Cranberry Growers Association, further supported by governmental initiatives in the mid-1990s. Despite challenges, including erratic weather and pests, Maine's cranberry farms, like those of Sparrow and Ricker, continue to adapt and persevere in a changing agricultural landscape.
Source: Bangor Daily News