Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. The state grew about 60 percent of the 2020 crop nationwide, according to the research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Wisconsin was projected to produce 4.3 million of the total 7.44 million barrel crop in 2022, up 3 percent from the year prior.
Only four other states produce cranberries on a large scale. Massachusetts is the second largest producer, followed by New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
According to the state cranberry association, 250 producers grow cranberries on 21,000 acres across 20 counties in central and northern Wisconsin. The cranberry harvest spans from late September through October.
The cranberry industry has about a $1 billion economic impact in Wisconsin. Originally called "crane berries" for their resemblance to the red spots on sandhill cranes, the cranberry was designated Wisconsin's state fruit in 2003.
Source: Wisconsin Watch