New Jersey cranberry growers have plenty to be thankful for this year, with federal forecasts predicting a bumper crop just in time for Thanksgiving.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a nearly 36% increase in New Jersey’s cranberry production compared with last year, thanks in part to steady rainfall throughout the growing season.
And there’s more good news for Thanksgiving shoppers as Ocean Spray says it won’t raise prices on its fresh cranberries or cranberry sauce this holiday season, with cranberry sauce typically selling for less than $3 per can.
At Lee Brothers Farm in Burlington County’s Chatsworth, the final day of this year’s cranberry harvest unfolded under blue skies and sunshine as workers gathered the last of the deep red berries.
“Season overall, I think it’s been great. The weather’s cooperated. We’ve had enough water,” said Jennifer Lee of Lee Brothers Inc.
The steady rainfall was especially welcome at the 158-year-old family-owned farm, which is still recovering from a drought two years ago that forced workers to pump groundwater into the cranberry bogs at a steep cost.
“Two years ago it was just it was awful to have to pump and consistently pump so we had enough water to harvest,” Lee said.
Despite the favorable growing season, the family says rising expenses continue to put pressure on the farm, which is part of the Ocean Spray grower-owned cooperative.
“We are taking a lot of hits at the farm level in terms of our costs, fertilizer costs certainly are higher, so are our diesel costs,” said Stephen Lee IV of Lee Brothers Inc.
Still, Ocean Spray’s decision to hold prices steady through the holidays is welcome news for growers who hope to see strong demand for their cranberries.
“When ocean spray says prices are not going to go up between now and the holidays that says to me they’re going to work very hard at selling more product. And as a grower we want to see them selling more cranberries,” said Stephen Lee III of Lee Brothers Inc.
With the last cranberries being trucked out of the bogs, the harvest season is coming to a close at Lee Brothers Farm.
“This is it. This is the final hoorah,” Jennifer Lee said.
The family is already looking ahead to next year’s growing season, knowing that favorable conditions are never guaranteed.
“Mother Nature is the one that’s in charge,” Stephen Lee IV said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
