The weather in New England, known for its unpredictability and variability across locations, plays a critical role in the cultivation of cranberry crops. Linda Burke, vice president of marketing and communication for A.D. Makepeace in Wareham, highlighted the potential impact of a recent hail storm on the area's cranberry yield. Despite the optimistic projections for the harvest season starting in late September, the actual outcome remains uncertain due to the damage inflicted by hail.
Hail storms pose a significant concern for cranberry growers, as they can severely damage the berries, likened by Burke to the effect of forcefully closing a car's hood. This damage presents considerable recovery challenges, casting doubt on previously expected larger harvests. However, not all conditions have been unfavorable; cooler nights in mid-August have facilitated the early reddening of the berries, a positive development for Ocean Spray, a prominent Middleboro-based company that processes the cranberries.
In contrast, cranberry bogs owned by Woody and Walter Hartley in Rochester were spared from the hail, leading to optimistic predictions for a better-than-average crop. Nonetheless, the unpredictability of weather conditions, including the mix of rain and sunshine this year, emphasizes the inherent uncertainty in agricultural outcomes.
Furthermore, climate change introduces additional complexities to cranberry cultivation. Warmer winters have extended the growing season, increasing the vulnerability of crops to adverse events. This shift underscores the growing challenges faced by cranberry growers in adapting to changing environmental conditions.
Source: Wareham