Take a handful of tenacious farmers, add some innovation and a smidge of cooperation, and you have the secret to Michigan’s small yet growing cranberry industry.

While the state remains a niche player, family farms are capitalizing on opportunities to boost business. Consumer interest in healthy foods as well as in buying from Michigan companies has spurred new sales avenues for the little bulbous berry.

One example is the partnership between the Michigan Cranberry Co. and supermarkets such as Hiller’s Market, Meijer Inc., Kroger Co. and Whole Foods Market Inc. This fall marked the first year Wally and Sharon Huggett sold fresh cranberries directly to a retailer, thanks in part to a request from Hiller’s to supply Michigan cranberries to its stores for the holiday season.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Wally Huggett, a semiretired sod farmer who has the largest cranberry operation in the state with about 220 acres producing 3 million pounds of cranberries annually in Cheboygan County.

“There is a real interest now from retailers in buying local,” Huggett said. “It’s helped level the playing field (against larger cranberry companies). It’s given us an appetite to do more.”

Locally and nationally, people have an appetite as well for the cranberry’s tart and penetrating flavor. According to Ocean Spray — the nation’s leading cranberry cooperative — Americans eat 400 million pounds of cranberries a year. About 20 percent, or 80 million pounds, is consumed during Thanksgiving week.

Agriculture experts say Michigan is positioned to grow and harvest cranberries.

The fruit is native to the state, and the local climate, soil, access to water and processing infrastructure are ideal, according to Michigan State University Extension.

But starting a farm in Michigan is expensive because of the regulatory process, some critics contend, and it takes years to become profitable — something the state is studying in hopes of improving.

Fewer than a dozen farms make up the 300 or so acres of cranberries grown in Michigan, said Michelle Hogan, interim executive director of the Cranberry Marketing Committee in Wareham, Mass. Most are in the upper part of the state — the Michigan Cranberry Co. has its offices in Marlette, but its bogs are in Cheboygan County — or spread out along the southwest side of the state.

That is why Michigan has a long way to go to even crack the top five states in cranberry production. Wisconsin is champ with about 18,000 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, the outlook is positive. The forecast for this year’s crop is 7.5 million barrels, up 10 percent from last year, the Agriculture Department said in August. Sources there say the growing season was delayed by a cool spring but a pleasant summer improved crop development.

If the state were to invest more in cranberries, a Michigan State University report notes that local farms could add about 2,500 acres of production that would create about 350 more jobs and generate an additional $29 million in estimated economic impact.

Huggett said the majority of his cranberries are sold directly to processors and wholesalers. He and his wife sell whole, frozen and sliced cranberries around the world.

Still, the learning curve was steep to get into the fresh berry market, the Huggetts said. Their Michigan Cranberry Co. had to install a new processing line to produce the largely perfect, round red berries chefs and foodies have come to expect from a bag of fresh cranberries.

Then there was the small matter of which recipe to put on the new bags — the Huggett family’s favorite or one for the traditional sauce. When the family favorite ended up on the bags, customers were irked, the Huggetts said.

Issues aside, Huggett and Hiller’s Markets Vice President Justin Hiller said Thanksgiving sales proved there is a market for Michigan-grown cranberries. Hiller said the chain plans on selling Huggett’s fruit long into the future. “We’re a local Michigan business, and we support our own,” Hiller said.

“We try to buy as much locally grown products as possible in a lot of categories. We saw an opportunity here to help build another Michigan company.”

Some stores sold out quickly, and Huggett said consumers pushed for more. Huggett estimates he could have sold 10 times as much as he did, but that will have to wait until next year.

That’s because fresh cranberries are a seasonal treat. Although frozen cranberries can be bought all year long, the whole berries are typically available from October through December.

Similar Posts:

Share