Cranberry Farmers Aim to Boost Prices by Withholding Crop

Dealing with an oversupply of cranberries for nearly 20 years, the berry farmers are requesting permission to destroy 25 percent of its crop.

Cranberry

Cranberry farmers are asking government officials for the okay to destroy a portion of their crops in order to raise prices. The Chicago Tribune reports that the idea of withhold crops came after a series of low prices and growers operating in the red. 

After struggling with an oversupply of the berries, growers around the country are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission to sell 75 percent of their supply and discard the rest, the Boston Globe reports. If approved, farmers could potentially withhold 100 million pounds of cranberries. 

Currently, the cost to produce a barrel of cranberries is around $35, up $4 from last year, according to USDA estimates. 


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