. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. Adjusting to these lower returns was not easy. This was espe- cially true for the larger grower, who was expanding with and operating on borrowed money and a larger overhead. Many growers were forced into foreclo- sures and even those of us who hung on saw our bogs deterio- rate badly. By 1955 Ocean Spray paid $, excluding retain and dividends. In 1958, it was up to $ Then came the cranberry/cancer scare and we had to go through another difficult period of years. Still, we are more vulnerable now to her- bicides /insectic
. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. Adjusting to these lower returns was not easy. This was espe- cially true for the larger grower, who was expanding with and operating on borrowed money and a larger overhead. Many growers were forced into foreclo- sures and even those of us who hung on saw our bogs deterio- rate badly. By 1955 Ocean Spray paid $, excluding retain and dividends. In 1958, it was up to $ Then came the cranberry/cancer scare and we had to go through another difficult period of years. Still, we are more vulnerable now to her- bicides /insecticides than we were then. Before our present general manager took over in 1972, we experienced yet another difficult period of several years. I got so far back on my town taxes that I went to our town treasurer and tax collector and asked Mr. Erickson not to auction off my bogs for nonpayment of taxes. His response: "If I tried to auc- tion off your property, I would have to auction off three-quarters of the Town of Carver for non- payment of taxes and there just isn't anyone who is interested in buying bogs at any price under present ; Marketing Order is still with us. It is administered by and has a Board that is familiar with a farmer's plight brought on by overproduction. Still, the major- ity of the Board in the early 1970's would not implement it. This committee does collect much useful information unavail- able from any other source. Last year this information indicated the probability of a serious impending surplus; this year it was more optimistic. Isn't it apparent that our industry is straddling a chang- ing line between supply and demand: between too much and not enough? Those difficult years of the past can be avoided. As individual growers, let's all keep in mind that a firm, market is much more rewarding than too many new acres. To my cranberry friends and adversaries: Please feel free to correct or disagree with this editorial. Write your
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