Cranberry Growers design their bogs to minimize the need for water.
Cranberry Growers typically maintain about10 acres of "supported land" for every acre of cranberries. This support land consists of forests, wetlands, streams, canals, and reservoirs to protect the integrity of the water supply. NJ's cranberry growers preserve approximately 31,000 acres in this fashion.
Most cranberries in NJ are grown in Burlington, Ocean and Atlantic counties. Cranberries thrive in the sandy, acidic soil found in these areas.
Much of the excess water in the cranberry bogs percolates back through the sandy soil, recharging the Cohansey aquifer and ensuring the sustainability of the ground water supply. The remaining water is returned to its original stream.
Cranberry growers design their bogs to minimize the need for water. Water is moved from bogs at a higher elevation to the next bog at a slightly lower elevation, and so on, reusing the water throughout the farm and frequently moving it down to the next cranberry grower.
Most growers use IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques as an ecological approach to pest control. IPM includes a combination of biological, cultural, or chemical control methods. Throughout the spring and summer, IPM scouts use insect nets and sticky traps to monitor pest activity.
