In the New Jersey Pine Barrens, Lee Brothers Incorporated, a family-operated entity, engages in the cultivation of cranberries. Andrew Lee, the Agricultural Operations Lead, notes that the harvest, taking place in October, involves flooding the bogs, using mechanical pickers to detach the cranberries from the vines, allowing them to float to the surface. Subsequently, the cranberries are transported to the nearby Ocean Spray facility.
The operation's success hinges on water availability, which has been compromised by drought conditions in New Jersey. Stephen Lee IV, a 6th Generation Cranberry Grower with 25 years of experience, remarked on the unprecedented severity of the drought, highlighting the absence of significant rainfall since August 8. The scarcity of water necessitates the use of wells, significantly increasing diesel fuel expenses for pumping, impacting the entire growing community in New Jersey.
Source: Fox 29