WISCONSIN RAPIDS (AP) — Growers expect Wisconsin will lead the nation as the top cranberry producer for the 20th consecutive year.



The harvest is underway in the Badger State where about 5.3 million barrels of cranberries are expected to be produced this year. Each barrel contains about 100 pounds of cranberries. The 2014 crop estimate is down from 2013 when a record 5.8 million barrels of cranberries were produced.



Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association president Tom Lochner tells Wisconsin Public Radio News there's been an increase in inventory in the past three to five years, despite efforts to grow the market domestically and internationally. He says cranberry prices have been depressed to levels below the cost of production.



Lochner says marketing is especially focused on international markets.



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