Soon, bogs throughout the South Coast will be running red with berries as cranberry growers in southern Massachusetts could expect to see a “solid” harvest this season, according to data released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

Approximately 2.2 million 100-pound barrels of cranberries are expected to be harvested this year in Massachusetts, according to agricultural data. This represents a 12% increase over last year’s harvest of approximately 1,936,000 barrels. 

“There is a fair amount of optimism among the grower community for the cranberry crop this year, compared to the disappointing harvest from last fall,” said Massachusetts Cranberries' Executive Director Brian Wick. 

Massachusetts Cranberries’, established as Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association in 1888, represents hundreds of cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. According to the organization, Massachusetts is the second largest cranberry-producing region in the United States, provides around 6,400 jobs and brings approximately $1.7 billion annually to the state’s economy. 

Overall, the national crop is anticipated to bring in an estimated 8.24 million barrels, a two percent increase over last year. 

“There are still many weeks in the growing season; the fruit needs to continue to size and color to be ready to begin picking at the end of September,” said Wick. “The recent spate of hot and humid conditions will likely keep the Massachusetts crop lower than the United States Department of Agriculture’s bullish estimate prediction, but with favorable weather and the skill of our hardworking cranberry growers, a good harvest is expected.”