USDA asked to purchase excess cranberries
The request asks the USDA to purchase 500,000 barrels from across the country to help alleviate the foreseen price drop.
"We are working with Secretary Vilsack and trying to help growers get access to foreign countries and pursue those markets," Congressman William Keating said in an interview.
Massachusetts ranks second among the country’s cranberry-producing states. Massachusetts’ cranberry industry generates $140 million in annual economic activity while controlling more than 60,000 acres of land.
"We have more acres and berries than ever, with a continuing decline in domestic and export sales,” John Decas, chairman of Carver-based Decas Cranberry Products, said in a statement. “No matter how you look at it, we are in a severe oversupply situation that could last a very long time."
Previous solutions to over supply have involved diversification of products - for example, dried cranberries - and also the search for export markets. This has had its successes - foreign consumption has tripled in the last 10 years.
“Growers are not going to stop growing, so we need to find new outlets (for) products,” said David Farrimond, a former executive director of the Cranberry Marketing Committee.
Source: www.enterprisenews.com
