Study: Cranberries Have Bigger Economic Impact

New research says Wisconsin cranberry industry has a bigger impact on the state's economy than many believed.
    
The Fiscal and Economics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finds cranberries have a fiscal impact of more than $388 million.
    
Researchers say the industry creates more than 3,800 annual full-time jobs in Wisconsin.
    
Research center director Russ Kashian says the 'super fruit' has a big impact because prices have doubled over the last year. He says people will pay a premium for cranberries, something that doesn't ordinarily happen with typical commodities.
    
Wisconsin has major cranberry growing and processing operations in seven counties; including Sawyer, Vilas, Portage, Juneau, Jackson, Monroe and Wood. The state is first in the U.S. in cranberry production with 46 percent of the market.

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