A T A G L A N C E
O regon cranberry production dates to the mid-1880s, when settlers from the East Coast identified conditions at the Oregon Coast similar to those in the Eastern production areas. A major growers’ cooperative opened its Bandon processing facility in 1947. At present, cranberry production in Oregon is limited to three coastal counties—Clatsop, Coos, and Curry. Expansion of Oregon’s cranberry production area is limited by water rights, rather than by access to markets, because fields are flooded to facilitate harvest.
Oregon’s cranberry production area is unique in the nation: the long growing season supports full color development. The Oregon crop is commercially valued for its quality, high concentration of soluble sugars, intense color, and reduced acidity. In 2008, Oregon growers received an average premium of
48¢ per pound over prices paid in other growing regions. Weather forces cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and New Jersey to harvest before full berry color can develop.
Much of the Oregon crop is used for juice, which is diluted with lighter-color juice to achieve ideal juice-product coloration. About
2% of Oregon’s production moves into fresh markets. The development of dried cranberry snacks has stabilized annual demand for this crop, which once had a 2-week window of demand. Research supports the health benefits of cranberries, which in turn drives the development of baked goods, ice cream, and snack foods that include cranberries.

Cooperative research and educational outreach have benefited the cranberry industry in these ways: n Determined factors that maximize yield and fruit size, stabilized site-specific yield over the years, and improved grower returns. $  n Recommended plant nutrients, soil amendments, and appropriate timing of application for cranberries. Appropriate fertilization increases grower returns and protects the environment. $ ❦ n Fostered integrated pest management techniques for large and small-scale family-owned cranberry farms, under conventional and organic production. $ S ❦  n Disseminated research-based information to the cranberry industry, on matters such as winter injury, machine-harvest and other production systems, berry physiology, and yield prediction. $ ❦ 
Benefits key
$ Economic benefit
❦ Environmental benefit
Family farms
Acres harvested
Barrels produced
Value of sales 2
1
151
3,050
400,000
$36.6 million
Oregon’s national ranking
Share of U.S. domestic production
#4
5%–8%
Health and nutrition benefits:
Fiber, vitamin C, and flavonoids; free of saturated fat and cholesterol
Notes
Economic data in this section from the 2008 Census of Agriculture. http://www.agcensus.
usda.gov and from the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service. http://nass.usda.gov/
Statistics_by_State/Oregon/
1 One barrel of cranberries weighs 100 pounds.
2 ”Value of sales” = value to growers from sales of their production. Commodities and farming operations vary widely in how much postharvest handling and packing take place on-farm.
Map omitted to protect proprietary information
Produced by the Department of Horticulture and Extension Service, Oregon State University.
© 2009 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EM 8981 C