Ocean Spray ITG Expands Cranberry Production

MARKHAM, Wash.—Ocean Spray’s Ingredient Technologies Group (ITG) facility here received $4.5 million to fund the retail packaging line of sweetened dry cranberry (SDC), increasing the overall investment to $32.2 million in the last year—giving the plant the capacity to produce sweetened dried cranberries (SDCs) for sale as ingredients to food manufacturers worldwide or packaged as Ocean Spray’s retail brand, Craisins®. When the project is complete, the Markham facility will have the capacity to produce more than 15 million pounds of SDCs each year. Rob Beams, vice president at Ocean Spray ITG (www.oceansprayitg.com), said, “The cranberry is already a popular ingredient worldwide thanks to its unique, versatile taste and eye-catching color, but as manufacturers and consumers become more aware of its high health value demand is surging.”