Sustainable Cranberry Production

Project Leader: Hilary Sandler

Participating Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Hilary Sandler
• Anne Averill
• Carolyn DeMoranville

Project Year: 2009

Brief Description

The cranberry industry in Massachusetts faces many challenges.  In the past ten years, growers have gone from receiving record high prices for their fruit to record low prices.  Although the industry has rebounded, the focus to remain economically competitive and environmentally sustainable has sharpened.  It is anticipated that the industry may lose some acreage due to attrition and that smaller growers may sell their land.  As with all farmers, energy costs are rising quickly, impacting the bottom line.  Growers must develop and adopt innovative technology to remain competitive.  They must understand the biology of cranberry pests to properly utilize new management tactics. Additionally, they must contend with increasing urban pressure on the farm's margin as many parties compete for resources.  The goal of the UMass Extension Sustainable Cranberry Project is to provide cranberry growers with pertinent and timely information so they may sustain their operations in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Cranberry Team works closely with a broad coalition that includes growers, consultants, professional associations, private vendors, non-profits, state and federal agencies, legislators, local officials and citizens.  Extension staff, researchers, and partners consider options and focus efforts on the most critical needs and logical avenues.  The Cranberry team convenes stakeholders to share information in a variety of formats that promote discussion and analysis of past, current and future issues in cranberry production and research.

Activities

• Management Update
• Newsletter
• Bogside Workshops
• Cranberry Station web site
• Cranberry diagnostic and management recommendation service,
• Research in support of reduced-risk pesticide registration,
• Development of research-based Best Management Practices relating to canopy management and reduced herbicide and phosphorus inputs,
• Development of Best Management Practices for maintaining and enhancing native pollinator habitat
• Cranberry Production Guide (full manual and executive summary)

Inputs: Time and Effort

Outcomes:

This Project will document progress towards the following:

• Participants adopt practices that ensure the economic viability of natural resource-based businesses.
• Participants promote, implement or adopt sustainable resource management and environmental best management practices for operating Natural Resources-based businesses.
• Participants will adopt practices that lower the risk from and exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.

This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program