Americans have been enjoying cranberries for centuries and the United States is the number one cranberry producer in the world. Last year, US cranberry exports were valued at $293.6 million, and Wisconsin is the top cranberry-producing state. Typically, 60 percent of US cranberries are grown there every year.
Ray Habelman is a fourth-generation cranberry farmer whose family has been growing this crop for more than 100 years in Wisconsin. He runs Habelman Bros. Company. “Cranberries are native to our area and started to become commercialized in the mid-1800s – before Wisconsin was even a state,” said Habelman. Wisconsin has the perfect climate to produce cranberries, and the export market for cranberries has an excellent climate for growth.
But Americans aren’t the only ones who have cranberries on our dinner plate during this time of the year. Habelman Bros. exports its fresh cranberries to Asia, Mexico, Canada, and Europe – with the Netherlands being its biggest overseas market. Exports are typically 20 to 25 percent of the company’s total annual sales with some years reaching 40 percent. “Exports have helped us maintain our levels of staffing and operations – allowing us to expand our business,” said Habelman.
Source: fas.usda.gov