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New England Agricultural Statistics Service
- - - a field office of the
      National Agricultural Statistics Service
      United States Department of Agriculture

Aubrey R. Davis, Director  Phone: (603) 224-9639
22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor      Fax: (603) 225-1434
PO Box 1444             Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/
Concord, NH 03302-1444    E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov
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                      Cranberries
     		      January 2005 

		    January 27, 2005

The following is an abbreviated version of the report.
The entire document is available as a PDF file on
the Internet through: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nh/
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A special "THANK YOU" goes to Massachusetts Cranberry 
growers and handlers who have helped us by completing 
cranberry surveys throughout the year.

2004 UNITED STATES CRANBERRY PRODUCTION UP THREE PERCENT

Massachusetts: Cranberry production in Massachusetts totaled 
1.8 million barrels in 2004, a 28 percent increase from the 
previous year's production. This year's production was the 
largest since 2000. Growers harvested 14,100 acres, 300 acres 
less than the previous year. This year's crop yield averaged 
127.9 barrels per acre, an increase of over 30 barrels per 
acre from the 2003 crop.

Cranberry handlers were contacted in the fall of 2004 for 
their expected price paid to Massachusetts' growers for 
their 2004 crop. The Massachusetts' 2004 preliminary price 
for fresh cranberries was $56.90 per barrel. The Massachusetts' 
2004 preliminary price for processed cranberries was $32.70 
per barrel. The next price update for the 2004 crop will be 
published in the Noncitrus Fruit and Nuts Summary scheduled 
for release on July 6, 2005. 

United States - Five Major States: The Nation's cranberry crop 
totaled 6.4 million barrels in 2004, three percent above the 
2003 production. Wisconsin continues to be the largest cranberry 
producing state with 3.48 million barrels in total production. 
Total United States cranberry acreage harvested was 39,200 acres, 
a decrease of 400 acres from the previous year. The United States 
2004 preliminary price for fresh cranberries averaged $56.20 per 
barrel and processed cranberries averaged $33.50 per barrel.

Maine: According to Charlie Armstrong, Cranberry Associate, 
University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine's 2004 cranberry 
production totaled 20,250 barrels, an increase of three percent 
from last year's production. There were 225 acres of cranberries 
harvested in Maine with an average yield of 90 barrels per acre. 

This report is taken from the National Noncitrus Fruits and 
Nuts - Preliminary Summary report published by USDA's National 
Agricultural Statistics Service at 3:00 PM on January 25, 2005. 
The Cranberries report is issued annually at 1:00 PM on the third 
Tuesday of August of each year. It contains the production forecast 
of the upcoming harvest.   

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