From Bog to Table: How Technology is Reviving the Cranberry Supply
Whether you are on team canned or team homemade cranberries, we can all be grateful for the ample cranberry supply this holiday season. After a challenging growing season in 2023, the availability of this tart fruit has rebounded in 2024. Much like the broader supply chain, cranberry growers have embraced technology—ranging from automation to artificial intelligence to sophisticated climate forecasting tools—to ensure more resilient harvests.
Combatting Weather Extremes with Smart Technology
Cranberry growers are increasingly adopting advanced irrigation systems that integrate with weather sensors. Controllable via the Internet, these systems help growers adjust their water supply to protect against frost. In addition, they also help farmers save water. Cranberries.org states that “growers utilizing automated irrigation systems can save more than 9,000 gallons of water per acre on a frost night.”
Accurate frost forecasting is another critical tool in the fight against unpredictable weather. The University of Wisconsin, located in the nation’s top cranberry-producing state, has developed a Frost Forecasting System that uses real-team surface and satellite weather observations to issue hourly forecasts. According to the University of Wisconsin, at the heart of the system “is a computer model of energy transport in a cranberry bog microclimate.” This model refines regional forecasts by scaling conditions—such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiant energy from the sun and clouds—down to bog level.
While cranberry yields increased in states such as Wisconsin and Massachusetts in 2024, New Jersey faced months of drought, reducing the state’s harvest this year. To help mitigate risk from future extreme weather, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has turned to AI. A key innovation, known as BerryBox, uses detailed imagery to analyze the cranberries. Researchers are hoping it will enable them to develop more weather- and disease-tolerant cranberry varieties for future harvests.
New Jersey’s Lee Brothers Inc., a prominent cranberry producer, has also taken steps to guard against severe weather. It has introduced an automated system that combines pump houses, sensors, and a mobile app to monitor both pump and environmental conditions. With built-in alarms for frost and pump malfunctions, this system helps the farm prevent crop damage. Additionally, it also frees employees from having to work the dreaded overnight monitoring shift!
Cultivating Resilience: The Future of Cranberries
Despite the climate challenges ahead, there is hope that this beloved food will remain on your table for many more holidays. With advancements in automation and climate forecasting tools, growers are finding creative ways to secure future cranberry harvests.
