National total cranberry production is estimated to be slightly higher than it was in 2018, according to figures released in late August by the Cranberry Marketing Committee.

In the cranberry industry, a crop year runs from Sept. 1 until Aug. 31.

Karen Cahill, the group’s communications and marketing specialist, told The Produce News on Aug. 26 that nationwide, cranberry production is to reach 8.8 million barrels this fall. Fresh production in recent years has been about five percent of national harvest.

Habelman Bros. Co., in Tomah, WI, is a very large producer of fresh cranberries. A “barrel” of cranberries weighs 100 pounds.

Last year, United States cranberry growers produced 8.6 million barrels.

In 2017 and 2016, respectively, the total production was 9.7 million and 8.3 million.

In 2008, production was only 3.0 million barrels. The national figures steadily skyrocketed from there.

Over that long timeframe, fresh production has remained relatively steady.

Domestic fresh cranberry sales in 2008 were 253,000 barrels. Such sales were 285,000 in 2017, with little variance in fresh volume through the years.

Fresh export cranberry sales have also been steady over the last decade. Between 2008 and 2017, fresh export volume ranged only between 43,800 barrels in 2016 and a high of 58,800 in 2011.

For 2019, Wisconsin is expected to produce a total of 5.54 million barrels of cranberries.

Massachusetts ranks second, with 2.1 million barrels.

Oregon cranberry production is expected to be a total of 575,000 barrels. New Jersey anticipated 490,000 and Washington State ranks fifth at 155,000 barrels.

The Cranberry Marketing Committee is based in Wareham, MA.