Runyan Participates in Cranberry Harvest in Chatsworth

Chatsworth, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-3) toured and experienced firsthand a south Jersey cranberry harvest.  Runyan toured the 1,800 acre farm owned by the Lee Brothers in Chatsworth.  Runyan observed the unique cranberry harvest which only occurs for four weeks each year.    

“I was thrilled to be afforded the opportunity to tour the Lee Brothers’ beautiful farm.  Cranberry farming is part of Burlington County’s and South Jersey’s history with generations of family farmers,” stated Runyan. “Cranberry production is an important driver of New Jersey’s economy producing over 500,000 barrels of cranberries in 2011 worth an estimated $26 million.”

Stephen Lee, III, a fifth-generation cranberry grower and a member of the board of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. praised Runyan for visiting.   

“As our Representative in Congress, Mr. Runyan has been very attentive to issues that are important to our Nation’s cranberry growers.  We are grateful that he found time in his busy schedule to come to the Pines and be a part of the 2012 harvest.  We are hopeful that Congressman Runyan will continue to tell his colleagues in the Congress about our exciting native berry that is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients,” stated Lee.  “New Jersey’s multi-generational farm families enjoy their work, especially in the fall.  And we take pride in the cranberry industry that our Ocean Spray Cooperative has built with hundreds of other farm families across North America.”

New Jersey is the third largest producer of cranberries in the country.  The Lee Brothers farm is part of the Ocean Spray cooperative.  Attached, you can find a picture of Congressman Runyan and Stephen Lee IV of Chatsworth.

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