Rising production costs push cranberry farmers to retire bogs

A Cranberry Farmer's Dilemma: Rising Costs Push to Retirement Bogs in Massachusetts.

The peak cranberry season in southeastern Massachusetts is typically associated with a thriving industry. However, for many farmers like Jarrod Rhodes, it has become a struggle to make ends meet. With the cost of labor, utilities, and real estate skyrocketing in the state, Massachusetts has become an increasingly expensive place to do business - especially when compared to neighboring Wisconsin.

Rhodes' farm, Edgewood Bogs LLC, produces around 50,000 barrels or five million pounds of cranberries annually. However, he is now considering scaling back his operation due to rising costs and changing weather patterns that have impacted cranberry production in the past decade. The economic study mentioned earlier shows a $1.7 billion contribution to Massachusetts' economy and support for nearly 6,400 jobs.

A program by the state's Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) might be an attractive option for some farmers like Rhodes. DER converts retired bogs into native wetlands as part of its "green exit strategy." This approach allows family farms such as Rhodes to retire their bogs and receive restoration grants in return, which enables them to invest in more profitable fields.

However, it appears that younger generations are not as interested in taking over the family business. As a result, more farmers like Rhodes are exploring retirement options for their bogs, preserving them as natural wetlands rather than continuing to grow cranberries on them. The DER's long-term goal is to restore 1,000 acres of unproductive land to its original state over the next decade.

The transformation from an agricultural landscape to a protected ecosystem may have economic benefits but raises concerns about food production and sustainability in the region.

omg, did u see that new vid on tiktok where they transformed this old warehouse into a treehouse ? it's so cool! i mean, cranberries are great and all, but let's talk about sustainable living for a sec... like, have u ever tried pickin' cranberries by hand? it's a workout lol. anywayz, back to the cranberry farmers... i think it's kinda sad that they're havin' to retire their bogs . what if there were more programs like the DER's "green exit strategy" for other industries too? like, imagine convertin' abandoned factories into community gardens or somethin'!

omg, i'm so worried about cranberry farmers like jarrod rhodes they're literally fighting for their livelihoods and it's heartbreaking to think that these family farms might be forced into retirement because of rising costs and changing weather patterns the economic impact is huge, $1.7 billion and 6,400 jobs... that's a lot of people who will lose their income but at the same time, i get why some farmers are looking for alternative options converting bogs into native wetlands could be a great way to preserve them as natural ecosystems while also generating revenue through restoration grants however, it's true that this might lead to a decline in food production and sustainability in the region i hope there are more ways to support these farmers and keep their operations running smoothly

omg u gotta feel for this cranberry farmer jarrod rhodes his farm is struggling so much with rising costs & changing weather patterns he's thinkin of scrapin his entire operation & turnin it into a nature reserve idk how he's gonna make ends meet the der program sounds like an easy out but its also super concerning about food production & sustainability in massachusetts

I just read this and it's super concerning . I mean, cranberry farming is such an iconic industry in Mass, but with rising costs, it's getting harder for farmers like Jarrod to make ends meet. He's gotta scale back his operation or risk losing everything . The DER's program sounds like a great idea, tho - those restoration grants can be game-changers . But what really gets me is that younger folks aren't interested in taking over the family business . It's like, where's the next gen of cranberry farmers gonna come from?! . And yeah, preserving bogs as natural wetlands might have its benefits, but we gotta think about food production and sustainability too . I hope the DER can hit their goal of restoring 1,000 acres in the next decade !

I'm worried about these cranberry farmers . I mean, it's already tough for them to make ends meet with rising costs and changing weather patterns. But now they're facing this huge dilemma - should they keep struggling or just sell out? It's like the industry is just not sustainable anymore.

And what about the younger generation? Are they really losing interest in farming? I get it, it's not an easy life, but someone's gotta do it. Maybe we need to rethink how we support these farmers - is this "green exit strategy" the answer or just a Band-Aid on a bigger problem?

I'm all for preserving natural wetlands and restoring land, but what about the food security aspect? We can't just abandon our agricultural industry without thinking about the consequences . It's like we're putting all our eggs in one basket - cranberries might be a niche market, but what if that disappears too?

We need to have a more nuanced conversation about this stuff, not just focus on the economic benefits. What's the plan for these farmers who want to stay involved? Can they adapt to new technologies and market trends without sacrificing their livelihoods? The future of our food systems is at stake, after all

Idk why anyone would think it's a good idea to just leave the bogs alone . I mean, we all love nature and all, but come on, 1,000 acres of unproductive land? That's like leaving a perfectly good field of wheat just to grow some weird type of aquatic plant . Don't get me wrong, preserving natural wetlands is great and all, but what about the farmers who actually need the money to keep their families fed? It's like they're being forced out because some fancy government program says it's better for the environment . What's next? Are we gonna start converting our farms into giant bird sanctuaries or something?

I'm getting so frustrated with these new "green exit strategies" for farmers like Jarrod Rhodes . It's all well and good that we're saving the environment, but what about his livelihood? He's worked hard to build up this farm over years, and now he's being forced to retire it just because the costs are too high . And let's be real, it's not like he's getting a sweet deal either - those restoration grants don't exactly cover all the expenses .

And what really gets me is that younger generations aren't interested in taking over the farm. I get it, farming can be tough and not always profitable, but it's still a part of our community's history and heritage . We should be supporting these farmers, not just letting them give up because it's not "cool" anymore .

I feel so bad for farmers like Jarrod Rhodes They're basically forced to retire their bogs due to rising costs and changing weather patterns. It's not just them, though - the whole industry is struggling! I mean, can you imagine if everyone decided to give up on their family businesses? The thought of all those cranberries going uneaten because of economics is pretty sad.

I get why the state's DER program might seem like a good solution, but what about food security? Do we really want to rely on imported cranberry products? And while preserving natural wetlands is awesome for the environment, it does raise some questions. Are we sacrificing one industry for another that might not be as sustainable in the long run?

I think we need to find a balance here . Maybe there's a way for farmers like Rhodes to adapt to these changes and still make a living off their land. We should be supporting them, not just the DER program .

man this cranberry thing is wild #CranberryCrisis. I mean, I get it, costs are high and changing weather patterns are affecting production - it's not easy being a farmer #FarmerLife. But retirement bogs just feel like they're giving up on the industry altogether #SustainabilityDilemma. I'm all for preserving natural wetlands and supporting DER's green exit strategy #GoGreen, but at what cost to food production? we need a more balanced approach here #FarmToTable

Ugh, I'm so frustrated with our forum's mobile view . Can't they just make it work properly on my phone? Anyway, back to this cranberry farmer drama...

It's crazy how the cost of living in Massachusetts is making it impossible for farmers like Jarrod Rhodes to keep their farms afloat. $1.7 billion contribution to the economy and 6,400 jobs are all well and good, but what about the people who actually work hard on these farms? I feel bad for Rhodes - his farm has been producing cranberries for years, but now it's becoming too expensive to keep going.

And this 'green exit strategy' program sounds like a good idea, but I worry that it'll lead to more bogs being turned into wetlands and fewer jobs. It's not just about the farmers; what about all the other people who depend on these farms for their livelihoods?

Ugh I totally get why farmers like Jarrod are struggling to make ends meet... it's like, I've seen my own cost of living go up 50% over the past decade! Massachusetts is just getting pricier and pricier, and Wisconsin can't compete with that. I mean, who wants to give up a lucrative cranberry business to preserve some wetlands? But at the same time, it's nice that they're exploring alternative options... even if it means losing some of the land for agriculture. Can we find a balance between preserving nature and supporting our local food system? I guess only time will tell

omg, can u believe this?! these cranberry farmers are struggling so much it's crazy. 1.7 billion is a lot of money for one industry! but at the same time, preserving those bogs as natural wetlands is a great idea. we need more of that in our ecosystem however, it does worry me about food production and sustainability in massachusetts. are they gonna find other ways to support themselves if farming isn't as viable? i feel for jarrod rhodes and his farm though, he's got 50k barrels of cranberries to turn into a profit

I'm so worried about these farmers like Jarrod Rhodes... it's crazy how rising costs are making it impossible for them to keep their farms running. I mean, $1.7 billion is a huge contribution to the economy, but if they can't make ends meet, what's the point? And it's not just the cost of living, it's also these changing weather patterns that are affecting cranberry production... like, what's next? Rising sea levels or something?

And I totally get why younger gens might be hesitant to take over family farms. It's a lot of pressure and responsibility, especially when the costs are piling up. But at the same time, preserving these bogs as natural wetlands is a good thing... we do need more green spaces, right? But it's just so confusing... I guess that's why we need to have more conversations about this stuff and find solutions that work for everyone!

I don't get why farmers like Jarrod Rhodes are being encouraged to just give up on their farms . I mean, they've been doing this for years and now it's not profitable anymore? What's the plan B? They're not just gonna sit on these bogs and collect a check . And what about the food security aspect? Are we really gonna rely on imports because our own farmers can't make ends meet?

I feel so bad for these cranberry farmers . I mean, they're already dealing with crazy costs like labor and utilities, and now they're having to think about retiring their bogs because it's just not profitable anymore? It's like, what are they supposed to do?

I know some of the farms in Wisconsin might be doing better than us, but can you blame them for leaving when the cost of living is so high here? I've been to some of those WI cranberry festivals and they're amazing! But at the same time, it's like we're losing a part of our heritage, you know?

I do think the DER program is a good idea though... I mean, preserving natural wetlands is super important for the environment . But yeah, it's just hard to see these family farms disappearing because of economics.