2011 Double Trouble cranberry harvest

46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
Stopped by the park to see if there was any info about this years harvest. Unfortunately, there was. The growers that made up the Jeffrey's Branch company decided to retire and the bogs were not leased for 2011. As of today, there is no harvest scheduled. Bummers :( This was the one place where you could freely roam around within reason and get really close to the operation. The growers were very cooperative and happy to answer questions. Sad to see this end, hopefully other growers will pick up the lease.

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Gibby

Gibby

Piney
Apr 4, 2011
1,670
492
Trenton
Why don't you head on over to Whitesbog? I never had any problems there observing cranberry operations during the harvest. I didn't get the name of the fellow I was talking with that was supervising when I was there last year, but he was very friendly and wasn't bothered by my presence at all. It was neat watching the workers fill the large dump trucks and seeing them driving quickly towards Chatsworth with urgency, water still flowing out behind there beds. I was suprised how fast things went.
 
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
I get over there too ;) but they are not as old school as DT . DT was nice and small, and the park opened the old sorting house on weekends during the harvest so folks could learn the way it was done. I'd hope they at least continue that. Ocean County Parks has a day trip to Lee Brothers for wet harvesting and then over to their Cloverdale Farms park for dry picking by the trip attendee's.

For comparison.

Whitesbog

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Double Trouble

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oji

oji

Piney
Jan 25, 2008
2,135
557
64
Browns Mills
This year they are trying a new harvesting method at Whitesbog. I'm not sure of the specifics but it involves a floating platform and long cables to guide it. The possibility of a cable snapping and striking someone has brought on the decision to not allow anyone in the area during harvest.
 
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
I'm surprised they ever allowed folks close. That is a big operation with a lot going on with trucks coming and going. I imagine you'll still be able to walk around when work is not in progress, as on a Sunday.
 
Gibby

Gibby

Piney
Apr 4, 2011
1,670
492
Trenton
Being the way I am, I will still try to wander in innocently and see what I can get away with. I hope that Whitesbogs aren't locked down. I really enjoy seeing them worked and if what is said is true about them being closed during the harvest, I feel saddened. :( My feelings mirror 46er's.
 
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
I'm not sure anyone leased those bogs. The county allows picking a gallon pail on the tours they run. I doubt any work has been done there since the house burned. The packing house was in even sorrier condition. German would probably have more accurate info.
 
GermanG

GermanG

Piney
Apr 2, 2005
1,170
539
Little Egg Harbor
The packing house at Cloverdale is slated to be either restored or at least stabilized. It has seen very little use for sorting berries since being acquired by the county. Most of the berries picked have been during public programs, where handpicking eliminates the need for mass sorting. The particulars related to leasing the bogs are being looked into. The park staff is getting spread a bit too thin at this point to effectively manage the bogs.
 
46er

46er

Piney
Mar 24, 2004
8,837
2,144
Coastal NJ
About the only public accessible spot I'm aware of is Whitesbog, but not when harvesting operations are taking place, as noted by Oji. I have found Sunday's to be perfect, but no vehicles beyond the signs. :) I've also heard of some commercial tours, beside Ocean Countys, that go to the Lee operation off RT 563. Passed thru there yesterday and it has already begun.
 
dogg57

dogg57

Piney
Jan 22, 2007
2,912
379
Southern NJ
southjerseyphotos.com
Little more Info
By now, the cranberry bogs at Double Trouble State Park should be filled with the tea-colored waters of Cedar Creek. Harvesters should be trudging through the flooded bogs in waders to catch as many of the crimson globes as possible.
But that won't be happening at Double Trouble State Park this year. The latest leaseholders of the bogs have retired.
The bogs, still damp from the heavy rains this summer, lie fallow. The leaves on the tiny plants are turning scarlet and butter-yellow in the cool October air. The berries will be left for the birds and animals that call the state park off Double Trouble Road home.
It's a situation that state Department of Environmental Protection officials are hoping is temporary.
http://manchester-nj.patch.com/articles/no-cranberry-harvest-at-double-trouble-state-park-this-year
 
Old Crazy

Old Crazy

Explorer
Oct 13, 2007
481
94
Stinking Creek, NJ
Rather than let the cranberries rot in the field, the state should allow people to pick them for their own consumption. If they're worried about liabilty, make people sign a waiver before they harvest.

I have had a three gallon container of cranberry plants for about 7-8 years now. It's not even July and I already have fully mature cranberries that are starting to turn red. They're at least 6 weeks ahead of schedule this year.
 
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