McGRATHPR.com – Massachusetts Cranberries (Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association/CCCGA) participated this week in Massachusetts Agriculture Day, declared the 2024 official celebration of the Commonwealth by MA Governor Maura Healey, marked on Tuesday, April 3, at the Massachusetts State House. The event, organized by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), honored the agricultural industry by gathering farmers, producers, and commodity groups from across the state demonstrating the rich diversity of Commonwealth-grown products. Legislators and officials sampled local foods and learned about the challenges that farmers face in the current marketplace.
Massachusetts is the founder of the cultivation of cranberries, initiated on Cape Cod in 1816, serving as the second largest cranberry growing region in the country. The Commonwealth produces approximately 23% of the annual national crop. “‘Ag Day’ is a tradition that showcases, to the State House and beyond, the rich and diverse agricultural community that is vital to the fabric of Massachusetts,” shares Massachusetts Cranberries Executive Director Brian Wick. “Massachusetts Cranberries is proud to be part of this agricultural legacy and is thankful for the support of our legislative and state leaders.” Leaders from the nonprofit stood united with other agricultural sector representatives including Massachusetts Dairy Farmers, Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, New England Vegetable and Berry Growers’ Association, Massachusetts Aquaculture Association, Massachusetts Cheese Guild, Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association, Buy Local organizations, Massachusetts 4-H, Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, and many more.
Massachusetts Cranberries leadership spent the day meeting with MA legislators, visiting the office of House Speaker Ronald Mariano, Senate Joint Committee on Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture Paul Schmid, Acting Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture Joanne Comerford, the staff of Senate President Karen Spilka, and spoke with Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle, Senator Ed Markey, and Representative William Straus, among many others. Massachusetts Cranberries attendees handed out samples of sweetened dried cranberries, 100% cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktail, while they discussed challenges and opportunities in the cranberry industry and interacted with other commodity groups.
During the celebration, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced more than $3 million in grants to support Massachusetts farmers through programs that improve composting efforts, food safety, cranberry bog restoration, stewardship, and business planning. MDAR Commissioner Randle also gathered 12 inaugural high school seniors as members of the newly formed Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council. The Council plans to cultivate and foster the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Cranberries, established as Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association in 1888, represents more than 300 cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts, with a current annual crop value of $73.4 million. Massachusetts is home to 30% of all North American cranberry acreage and according to the Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Report, provides nearly 6,400 jobs and a total economic benefit of over $1.7 billion to the Massachusetts economy.
For more information about Massachusetts cranberries and their health benefits, visit Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association online at cranberries.org or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About Massachusetts Cranberries
Established in 1888 as Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association (CCCGA) to standardize the measure with which cranberries are sold, now recognized as Massachusetts Cranberries, the nonprofit stands as one of the country’s oldest farmers’ organizations. Massachusetts Cranberries represents more than 300 growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket, in unity to promote Massachusetts’ official state fruit and bolster the cranberry industry’s sustainability.
Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts. with a current annual crop value of $73.4 million. Massachusetts is home to 30% of all North American cranberry acreage and according to the Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Report, provides nearly 6,400 jobs and a total economic benefit of over $1.7 billion to the Massachusetts economy.
For more information, contact Brian Wick, Executive Director, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, at bwick@cranberries.org, call 508-866-7878, visit cranberries.org, or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
