Cranberries, green beans, ginseng, potatoes, carrots and cherries – oh my! But what do all these things have in common? They are some of the top specialty crops produced in Wisconsin.
Not only do these products contribute to the strength and diversity of our state’s $116.3 billion agriculture industry, they can also make great additions to your holiday celebrations!
Every year, the holidays are an opportunity to connect with loved ones, enjoy delicious food, and celebrate gratitude. As the 78th Alice in Dairyland, I am especially grateful as I reflect on representing Wisconsin agriculture and the hardworking people who work tirelessly to produce top-quality products that we all enjoy. The holiday season is also the perfect time to spotlight the many specialty crops that we might incorporate into our celebrations, and how these products highlight the importance of supporting local while adding new flair to our dinner tables!
What is a specialty crop?
Let’s start with defining specialty crops we might find in Wisconsin and beyond. According to the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service, specialty crops are “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture).” Wisconsin is no stranger to specialty crop production due to our ideal climate, an abundance of freshwater resources, and historical advantages, such as transportation and a supportive network of farmers, researchers and businesses.
Based on the most recent Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin ranks first in the nation for snap beans for processing, cranberries and ginseng. When it comes to major processing vegetables, Wisconsin is a powerhouse, growing 4.28 million hundredweight of snap beans and 846,400 hundredweight of green peas in 2024.
If you are a fan of potatoes, Wisconsin ranks third in the country for production, harvesting this popular vegetable on almost 70,000 acres in 2023. And, Wisconsin produces more than 60 percent of the nation’s crop of cranberries, which is also our state fruit! These specialty crops also impact Wisconsin on the international scale, helping contribute $3.97 billion to agricultural and food product exports in 2024.
Where are specialty crops grown in Wisconsin?
In my travels as Alice, I have enjoyed learning more about specialty crops and ways I can use these unique products. I witnessed my first cranberry harvest at the Wisconsin Cranberry Innovation Center in Black River Falls, which gave me an unforgettable memory of putting on waders and walking into the blanket of crimson berries on the water. Each holiday season that closely follows harvest is the most popular time for using cranberries, accounting for about 20% of all cranberry consumption!
I learned about the life cycle of ginseng at Heil Ginseng Inc. in Edgar, where Dan Heil welcomed me to beautiful ginseng gardens and their state-of-the-art storage facility. Wisconsin produces approximately 98% of all cultivated ginseng in the United States, all within a 1,500 square mile region around Marathon County. This state herb of Wisconsin is perhaps one of our most distinct crops and has a bitter-sweet taste that is well known around the world. Because of this, Wisconsin ginseng is highly sought after in its dried root form, as well as in powder form, sliced form, teas, and supplements.
I was fortunate to join a potato harvest this fall at Schroeder Brothers Farm in Antigo, where I rode along with the “digger” tractor to unearth the potatoes and watched the “harvester” pick them up. Wisconsin grows all seven varieties of potatoes and takes pride in our strong network of potato growers. Our state soil, the Antigo silt loam, is ideal for potato production since it drains very well. This allows growers of all shapes and sizes to provide a delicious product that is gluten free, fat free, rich in Vitamin C, and loaded with potassium. With all these nutritional and health benefits, potatoes make for the perfect healthy and high-energy fuel to keep you going during the holidays.
Wisconsin specialty crops and the holidays
Each of these specialty crop communities upholds to the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture. Through my adventures, I’ve discovered that they all have one thing in common, which is the dedication and pride that producers and their families have for farms and their livelihoods. There is no better time than the holidays to support local farmers and businesses, and buying local supports families, rural economies, and fresher meals.
If you are looking for ways to make the holidays extra special this year, check out a few innovative recipes right here on Gather Wisconsin. A personal favorite of mine is a butternut squash mac and cheese, which my mother and I have created and perfected over the years. You can find this recipe on my website, www.aliceindairyland.com.
Beyond this, there are so many simple, fun, and creative ways to add a taste of Wisconsin to your table while making lasting memories with the most important people in our lives. I wish everyone a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season complete with delicious Wisconsin specialty products that allow us to explore local agriculture in our everyday lives!