Photo: Getty Images
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio)— Move over pumpkins, there's a new fruit taking over October in Massachusetts.
Governor Charlie Baker declared Wednesday that the month of October will be known as "Massachusetts Cranberry Month."
The cranberry growing industry is a staple in Massachusetts, with the state being the largest cranberry growing region in the country. Around 13,000 acres of the state are commercial cranberry bogs with the majority residing in the Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties.
This declaration is part of the governor's ongoing plan to support cranberry farms in the state and to encourage residents to buy local cranberry products, according to a statement from the governor.
Read More: Cranberry Growers Worried About Harvest After Rainy, Humid Summer
Massachusetts produced around 23 percent of the nation's cranberries, which makes it the top commercial crop in the state. The cranberry industry in the state produced around $64.9 million in revenue in 2020.
“The cranberry industry has been of vital importance to agriculture in the Commonwealth and especially here on the south coast,” State Rep. Susan Gifford of Wareham said in a statement. “We are grateful to have an Administration that recognizes the important role cranberries play in our economy and the challenges that face our growers."
In August 2020, Governor Baker awarded $7.75 million funds to the University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station in Wareham. This money went to upgrading the infrastructure upgrades to help improve the environmental footprint of the lab and research facility.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App