Every fall, Massachusetts’s cranberry farmers flood their bogs to harvest the tart, red fruit – a staple dish of the Thanksgiving table. But as the climate warms, they’re facing new challenges.
To produce blossoms and fruit, cranberry vines need cold weather each winter. Without it, the vines may produce less fruit.
Rising temperatures can also cause the buds to bloom early, so farmers need to be prepared earlier in spring to protect any buds from sudden frosts.
Peter Jeranyama of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Cranberry Station says climate change is causing problems in the fall, too.
He says colder temperatures in autumn help the cranberries develop their deep red color.
Jerenyama: “But if it is too warm at night, you don’t have your color develop as quickly as you want.”
… which can lower the profits farmers can earn from their harvest.
And the harvest itself can become more difficult if climate change leads to more periods of drought.
Jerenyama: “That can affect the amount of water available for harvesting.”
Some newer cranberry varieties may be better suited to the changing climate, and smart irrigation practices could help farmers save water.
But as the planet warms, growers may have to adapt to keep cranberries on our Thanksgiving tables.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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