10/27/06 Cranberries for Thanksgiving

Cranberries for Thanksgiving. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The forecast for the 2006 cranberry crop is 6.64 million barrels, up 6 percent from 2005 and 7 percent above 2004, according to USDA`s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Production is forecast to be up in Massachusetts, Oregon and Wisconsin but down in New Jersey and Washington. The Oregon crop is forecast at 485,000 barrels, 10 percent above last year but 2 percent below 2004. Most growers reported a good bloom, but it was one to three weeks later in the season compared to recent years. Most producers reported the condition of this year`s crop is better than last year but fruit sizing may be an issue. The Washington crop is forecast at 160,000 barrels, 14 percent below last year and down 6 percent from 2004. Some damage was reported from a fall hailstorm, with additional damage reported over the winter. The spring was cool and damp with poor conditions during bloom. These conditions limited bee activity and did not allow for a good fruit set. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.