MADISON, Wis. — Tiffany-backed tariffs have destabilized trade relations with nearly every nation in the world leading to lower profits for Wisconsin farmers and reduced access to markets across the board. As farmers move into harvest season, these tariffs are affecting another Wisconsin farming powerhouse: the cranberry industry. The U.S. produces nearly two-thirds of the world’s cranberries, a staple at American Thanksgiving tables, and Wisconsin is responsible for 60% of that production. The largest markets for Wisconsin cranberries include the EU, Canada, Mexico and China—all of which have become less accessible markets for farmers.
“Wisconsinites should be discussing whether cranberry sauce is best fresh or in the shape of a can at Thanksgiving dinner, not how much the industry suffers under tariffs,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Emily Stuckey. “Tom Tiffany and his tariffs are hitting folks at the farm, the grocery store and at the dinner table and Wisconsinites are tired of it.”
The cranberry industry in Wisconsin supports at least 4,000 in-state jobs and generates close to $1 billion annually. Farmers are struggling under high input costs for fertilizer, equipment and their workforce and now they’re facing the reality that the effects of tariff-lover Tom’s devastating economic policy means that their profits will continue to dwindle.
