Taking Charge of our Future

By Dave McCarthy
  Massachusetts cranberry grower,
Member, Cranberry Institute Board of Directors

8/19/99 - I believe that the time has come for all cranberry growers to take an active part in the future of our industry.  The news that the industry will have a carryover of approximately 3 million barrels is very unsettling and could bring the whole industry to its knees.

Leaving  our future in the hands of our respective handlers is not the answer.   Inbred jealousies, lack of trust between handlers, etc. do not  make a smooth path leading to the road to recovery.  There is, in my estimation, only one way that we can recover in a reasonable amount of time with a little skin left on us.  That way is to begin to promote the  cranberry industry by bringing to this country and the world the word  CRANBERRY.  Right at the moment, all handlers and bottlers are out there chasing the same dog.  This, as we all know, is only driving the price lower.

How do we go about doing this?

I would like to suggest that all cranberry growers (U.S. and Canada) agree to put up twenty five cents per barrel to be held out by their handlers and put into a fund to be used by the Cranberry Marketing Committee for the generic promotion of CRANBERRIES.   This promotion of cranberries would consist of telling the good story that we have to tell but without a brand name in sight.  I can only state that without  we, the growers, taking a lead in this direction, it will never happen.

Twenty five cents a barrel will be peanuts compared to the distinct possibility of a set-aside for a number of years to come.  We have to make a move and make it fast.

I would to further suggest that a so-called "Cranberry Summit Meeting" be held in the very near future.  This meeting could be hosted by the Cranberry Institute (with board approval) and would consist of the top two people from each  handler in the industry.  Subjects could be: How the industry used to be, how it is now and the principles used in returning  it to a viable industry.  It seems that if the Arab Countries can sit at a table and be somewhat civil to each other, we should be able to do the same.

There are no simple answers to a very complicated situation, but we have to start somewhere and these are my views on  where we could begin a recovery effort.

I would like to here from fellow cranberry growers as to their  views on this subject either on the Stressline Forum   (preferably), or E-Mail me at Mysticran@ webtv.net

Thanks and have a good harvest .  

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