Ocean Spray looks for more fresh cranberry volume

Middleboro, Mass-based Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. expects to have more fresh fruit this year compared with 2019.

“We still have a long way to go and Mother Nature can be unpredictable, but right now we are optimistic that we will have more fresh fruit compared to last year’s volumes,” the company said in an e-mail report in mid-September.

Ocean Spray is a farmer-owned cooperative, owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers in the U.S., Canada and Chile.

Wisconsin is the largest producer of Ocean Spray cranberries, and the company exports to Europe and Asia.
About 5% of Ocean Spray’s cranberry crop is organic, according to the company.

“Organic is growing faster than non-organic, but still remains relatively small compared to the whole crop,” the company said in the update. “We do expect to see growth again this year in organic consumption.”

Some Ocean Spray growers expected to start harvesting by Sept. 16, according to the report.

“Canadian Thanksgiving is on Oct. 12 and we need to have enough of the crop harvested to meet the Canadian consumer demands,” the update said. 

Ocean Spray fresh cranberry harvest should wrap up by early to mid-November. 

Ocean Spray will continue to promote the health aspects of the cranberry, according to the update, and also will encourage consumers to buy two bags and freeze one.

Packaging will remain mostly centered on the 12-ounce bag, though Ocean Spay offers other package sizes to meet consumer needs.

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