The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast 2014 cranberry production at 8,565,500 (100-lb) barrels, or 856.5 million lbs, down 4% from 8,957,400 barrels in 2013.
Higher production from a year ago was forecast in four of the five major states, the U.S.D.A. said in its annual Cranberries report. The exception was top-producing Wisconsin, where production of 5,385,000 barrels was down 10% from 2013.
“Growers in Wisconsin reported lower yields than last year,” the U.S.D.A. said. “Some producers reported small berries due to cool weather. A hail storm hit several areas the last weekend in July and growers were still assessing the damage. Despite the weather concerns, many growers were optimistic that they will have a pretty good crop.”
Production in No. 2 Massachusetts was forecast at 2,065,000 barrels, up 11% from 2013, with New Jersey at 558,000 barrels, up 2%, Oregon at 395,000 barrels, up 1%, and Washington at 162,000 barrels, up 7%.
The report was not issued in 2013 due to budget issues. Production in 2012 was revised upward to 8,045,000 barrels.
