WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. — The Wisconsin Cranberry Board has approved more than $1 million in funding for 2026 initiatives that strengthen the state’s cranberry industry through research, education, and market development.
The grower-led board is comprised of seven elected cranberry producers representing more than 250 marshes across Wisconsin. The Board directs assessment dollars toward programs that strengthen the long-term viability and resilience of the state’s cranberry industry.
Funding for these initiatives is generated through a $0.25 per barrel assessment collected on all cranberries produced in the state. Growers approved an increase to the assessment in 2024, reinforcing their commitment and collective investment into the long-term strength of Wisconsin’s cranberry industry.
In 2025, Wisconsin growers harvested approximately 4.8 million barrels of cranberries, generating the revenue to reinvest back into the industry through strategic programming. Approved funding for 2026 totals nearly $1.1 million and supports a broad range of efforts.
“These investments reflect a coordinated effort to keep Wisconsin’s cranberry industry competitive, resilient, and forward-looking,” said Grant Holley, executive director of the Wisconsin Cranberry Board. “By supporting research, education, and health initiatives, we are ensuring growers have the tools, knowledge, and market support needed to adapt to changing conditions and continue delivering a high-quality crop.”
$375,000 has been invested in projects led by researchers at University of Wisconsin, the University of Massachusetts, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), supporting efforts to strengthen the future of cranberry production. Research priority areas include disease detection and management, climate resilience including cold hardiness and frost risk, and breeding and phenotyping for improved varieties. Funding also supports research conducted by industry partners such as Ocean Spray Cranberries, along with other collaborating organizations, helping advance knowledge and tools that benefit growers across Wisconsin.
$618,721 has been allocated to education and industry communication efforts, supporting grower outreach, consumer education, and market development through the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association and the Wisconsin Cranberry Research and Education Foundation. These programs include international trade outreach, public outreach and education campaigns, weather forecasting, and educational programming for growers to support best management practices, regulatory compliance and translate ongoing research into actionable practices. Additional efforts focus on preserving and sharing the history of Wisconsin’s cranberry industry.
Up to $125,000 has been earmarked to support health research through the Cranberry Institute, continuing work that advances scientific understanding of cranberries’ role in human health and supports long-term demand growth. This funding also aligns with Wisconsin growers’ interest in advancing gut health research, including how cranberry compounds may help prevent the adhesion of certain bacteria, reflecting priorities identified by the Institute’s scientific advisory board and industry health leaders.
In addition to grower-funded investments, the Wisconsin Cranberry Board leverages co-funding from industry partners to expand the reach and impact of its programs. 2026 co-funding was provided by the Cranberry Institute and Mariani.
“Wisconsin’s cranberry industry has a long history built on hard work, innovation, and pride in what we grow,” said John Moss, president of the Wisconsin Cranberry Board and owner of Elm Lake Cranberry. “As growers, we are also stewards of the land, and these investments help ensure we are caring for our marshes, making informed management decisions, and keeping this industry strong for the next generation.”
Wisconsin has been the nation’s leading cranberry producer for three decades and annually supplies approximately two-thirds of the United States’ cranberry crop. Wisconsin cranberries contribute an estimated $1 billion annually to the state’s economy and support more than 4,000 jobs each year. Cranberries are Wisconsin’s official state fruit and the state’s largest fruit crop. The industry includes more than 250 growers across 19 counties and approximately 25,000 acres of planted crop.
More information about the Wisconsin Cranberry Board and its programs is available through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
To learn more about Wisconsin’s cranberry industry, visit Wiscran.org/Experience or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
