State cranberry growers might increase fees to allow for more marketing of Wisconsin's official fruit.
Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection spokesperson Ann Marie Ames says that agency certifies the referendum, which allows for more marketing spending if growers approve...
"...this is money that the marketing board would then use for research, education and market development of Wisconsin's cranberry industry..."
Ames outlines marketing goals..
".....to develop new markets, maybe overseas markets, or to find new ways to consume cranberries or around the United States. It's definitely a popular fruit and our state's number one fruit..."
Once final approval is approved and published, the board would have the authority to increase the fee from the current maximum of 20 cents per barrel in 2017, to 25 cents per barrel in 2019. Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state, about 6 million barrel in 2013. Prices have fallen due to the large supply of fruit.
