Oops, I missed the auction that happened a week or two ago and the GOOD NEWS is that the average price per gallon of $17.04 was up 8% over the July 2015 price!  Not sure what exactly brought this about, but it is certainly good news.  Maybe it was the crop numbers that look to be consistent versus last year, and down versus projections.  Still a strong crop, but fortunately not a huge crop.

We are just finishing up harvest in Wisconsin…a few of the big growers are still going but the early results are showing a crop in WI that just didn’t get large.  Lots of theories, like not enough heat, too much ice on the edges of the beds, early rain…on and on.  Almost everyone I talked to was down. Two growers were above their estimates.  No lines at the receiving stations.  Back in February, the CMC predicted 8.8mm barrels for the US.  Then in August the CMC lowered it to 8.6.  Last year we grew a crop of just over 8mm barrels in the US, with WI producing 4.9mm barrels of that.  On the other hand, MA is growing a huge crop, which for them is 2.3mm barrels.  Other growing areas are on par with last year.  I guess at this point, I can’t see the US as producing a crop even as big as last year..the 8mm barrel number.  How low will it go?  WI is down.  Is it as low as 4.6mm barrels?  Maybe, we will know soon.

Last year Canada and specifically, Quebec, really delivered.  They had a huge crop.  I’ve heard multiple reports of their crop being down in spite of their added acres.  The reports just aren’t as detailed from that growing area, but can they do the 3.4 (Canada)/2.4mm(Quebec) barrels this year that they produced last year?

Add all of the above to the fact that CMC reports that we as an industry sold 1,000,000 barrels more in the 2014 crop year than the previous year.  Usage is up and the crop at best is level, more likely with the crop reports from WI and Quebec (they produce 70%+ of the supply), the crop will be down.  This will be the first time in a few years that we will take in less than we sell.  This means we will start to impact our inventory numbers.

This is where things get really interesting, I think.  Clearly, we have lots of inventory…but when you look more closely at the CMC numbers, the inventory is in the liquid form (well, maybe frozen liquid…concentrate).  At the end of the 2014 crop (remember that was just 8/31) we had in inventory 2.7mm bbls whole frozen fruit …barely enough to keep the dryers going until the end of the year…and even now some lines are shut down in WI due to lack of fruit.  In processed inventory (finished goods inventory) we were down to 1.8mm barrels from 1.9 the same time last year.  We will have enough dried cranberries for the fall season, but the inventory is clearly tightening and will certainly be less next year.  The 2015 crop will be up and running after the first of the year, and we will have plenty for everyone…until we run out. I really do think the dried cranberry inventory could be significantly impacted by this harvest. And, don’t forget that it is the drying process that makes so much of the concentrate…so finally THAT inventory can start coming down.  Even if we have enough fruit to run they whole year…it certainly won’t be in the right location.

It is really too bad that we can’t make that concentrate into dried cranberries….

We are just finishing up harvest in Wisconsin…a few of the big growers are still going but the early results are showing a crop in WI that just didn’t get large.  Lots of theories, like not enough heat, too much ice on the edges of the beds, early rain…on and on.  Almost everyone I talked to was down. Two growers were above their estimates.  No lines at the receiving stations.  Back in February, the CMC predicted 8.8mm barrels for the US.  Then in August the CMC lowered it to 8.6.  Last year we grew a crop of just over 8mm barrels in the US, with WI producing 4.9mm barrels of that.  On the other hand, MA is growing a huge crop, which for them is 2.3mm barrels.  Other growing areas are on par with last year.  I guess at this point, I can’t see the US as producing a crop even as big as last year..the 8mm barrel number.  How low will it go?  WI is down.  Is it as low as 4.6mm barrels?  Maybe, we will know soon.

Last year Canada and specifically, Quebec, really delivered.  They had a huge crop.  I’ve heard multiple reports of their crop being down in spite of their added acres.  The reports just aren’t as detailed from that growing area, but can they do the 3.4 (Canada)/2.4mm(Quebec) barrels this year that they produced last year?

Add all of the above to the fact that CMC reports that we as an industry sold 1,000,000 barrels more in the 2014 crop year than the previous year.  Usage is up and the crop at best is level, more likely with the crop reports from WI and Quebec (they produce 70%+ of the supply), the crop will be down.  This will be the first time in a few years that we will take in less than we sell.  This means we will start to impact our inventory numbers.

This is where things get really interesting, I think.  Clearly, we have lots of inventory…but when you look more closely at the CMC numbers, the inventory is in the liquid form (well, maybe frozen liquid…concentrate).  At the end of the 2014 crop (remember that was just 8/31) we had in inventory 2.7mm bbls whole frozen fruit …barely enough to keep the dryers going until the end of the year…and even now some lines are shut down in WI due to lack of fruit.  In processed inventory (finished goods inventory) we were down to 1.8mm barrels from 1.9 the same time last year.  We will have enough dried cranberries for the fall season, but the inventory is clearly tightening and will certainly be less next year.  The 2015 crop will be up and running after the first of the year, and we will have plenty for everyone…until we run out. I really do think the dried cranberry inventory could be significantly impacted by this harvest. And, don’t forget that it is the drying process that makes so much of the concentrate…so finally THAT inventory can start coming down.  Even if we have enough fruit to run they whole year…it certainly won’t be in the right location.

It is really too bad that we can’t make that concentrate into dried cranberries….

Enjoy…

Enjoy…

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151022005518/en/Ocean-Spray-Launches-Online-Flagship-Store-China​

Ocean Spray is doing the alibaba thing in China. Good job!!

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151022005518/en/Ocean-Spray-Launches-Online-Flagship-Store-China​

Ocean Spray is doing the alibaba thing in China. Good job!!

A few beds are ready to be picked up. Growers will be back at it on Monday. A little cold snap this weekend slowed things down. Still hearing reports of a down crop but these beds look fine.  

A few beds are ready to be picked up. Growers will be back at it on Monday. A little cold snap this weekend slowed things down. Still hearing reports of a down crop but these beds look fine.  

Terry Humfield sent me this article about some new research in cranberries and hearth health. Awesome news!

http://mobile.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Study-supports-cranberry-s-heart-health-benefits

Terry Humfield sent me this article about some new research in cranberries and hearth health. Awesome news!

http://mobile.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Study-supports-cranberry-s-heart-health-benefits

Certainly the WI crop has disappointed many growers. We’ve heard that many growers are off last years crop which was a 4.9million barrel crop inWI. How low will it go? About a week from now we will know more but it certainly won’t be higher and maybe a 200,000 bbls lower?  

One grower in Qubebec told me they were expecting a big crop but isn’t materializing. He said expect them to be down from last year due to many acres converting to organic and the overall growing season. Will they be down 200,000 bbls as well? Again too early to tell but that “big crops get bigger and small crops get smaller” adage seems to be working on the smaller side. 

Prices are already going up. One handler has increased their base $3/barrel to $15, with healthy incentives on top of that. 

I would guess that with a decreased amount of fruit for the dryers, that the amount of concentrate out there will tighten up as well. 

IF all the above plays out, the price for all of our products will increase. About damn time. 

Certainly the WI crop has disappointed many growers. We’ve heard that many growers are off last years crop which was a 4.9million barrel crop inWI. How low will it go? About a week from now we will know more but it certainly won’t be higher and maybe a 200,000 bbls lower?  

One grower in Qubebec told me they were expecting a big crop but isn’t materializing. He said expect them to be down from last year due to many acres converting to organic and the overall growing season. Will they be down 200,000 bbls as well? Again too early to tell but that “big crops get bigger and small crops get smaller” adage seems to be working on the smaller side. 

Prices are already going up. One handler has increased their base $3/barrel to $15, with healthy incentives on top of that. 

I would guess that with a decreased amount of fruit for the dryers, that the amount of concentrate out there will tighten up as well. 

IF all the above plays out, the price for all of our products will increase. About damn time. 

Thanks Mary Brown for sending this my way.

check this link

Thanks Mary Brown for sending this my way.

check this link

Random shots from up top. Be safe everyone!