Wisconsin cranberry growers may increase fees, in order to allow for more marketing of the state’s official fruit. Lower prices caused by an over supply of cranberries is the backdrop on the effort to put more money into marketing, education and research.
Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Ann Marie Ames says growers are being asked to up the amount of money spent per barrel of fruit. If the cranberry growers approve the measure, the fee per barrel would increase from the current maximum of 20 cents in 2017, to 25 cents per barrel in 2019.
Wisconsin produces the most cranberries in the U.S, some 6 million barrels in 2013. The abundant supply has driven prices down for the last two years.
