The Last Massachusetts Cranberry Farmer: Based on a True Story
The frost had settled early that year, casting a pale shimmer over the remaining cranberry bogs in Southeastern Massachusetts. For generations, the Thompson family had fought through bitter winters and scorching summers to keep their family-owned cranberry farm alive—a farm that had once flourished with rich, ruby-red berries, feeding the Thanksgiving tables of New England for over a century.
But this year was different. There was no harvest, no workers knee-deep in flooded bogs raking in the fruits of their labor. The once-thriving land had fallen silent, neglected and overtaken by weeds. The Thompsons were losing their farm, and there was no one in power willing to help them.
A Family Cranberry Legacy Lost to Indifference
The Thompson cranberry bog had been in the family since 1898, passed down through five generations. It had survived the Great Depression, wartime shortages, and economic downturns. What it couldn’t survive, however, was the blatant neglect and indifference of Massachusetts lawmakers, who continually prioritized Big Agriculture and corporate interests over the small family farms that built the state’s agricultural reputation.
For years, the Thompsons had begged for assistance. They applied for state grants—denied. They tried to access emergency relief after a devastating flood—ignored. They petitioned lawmakers to help family-run farms compete against industrialized cranberry operations—silence. Instead, politicians passed legislation that directly benefited massive agribusinesses, leaving small farmers like the Thompsons to fend for themselves.
The costs became insurmountable. Water rights regulations restricted their ability to irrigate properly, new environmental policies placed expensive compliance burdens on them, and the price of cranberries plummeted due to mass production by out-of-state competitors. The state did nothing to level the playing field.
The Last Massachusetts Cranberry Farmer: Based on a True Story
The Final Blow
After years of struggling, the Thompson family made the painful decision to walk away. With no buyers willing to keep the land as a bog, they were forced to sell at a fraction of its worth to a commercial developer. Within months, the land was drained and bulldozed, paved over for yet another chain retail store. A century-old cranberry bog—gone forever.
The state of Massachusetts lost more than just a farm that day—it lost another piece of its agricultural and cultural identity. The Thompsons lost their livelihood, their ancestral home, and a legacy that should have been passed down for generations.
How Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation Could Have Stepped In
Had the Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation been able to step in earlier, this story might have had a different ending. Through our direct farmer grants, we could have helped the Thompsons cover the costs of maintaining their bog. Our Gift-A-Bog initiative could have transferred their land into responsible hands, protecting it from commercial destruction. Volunteers could have helped sustain the bog, keeping it productive and profitable.
But the Thompsons never got that chance. Their story is not unique—it is just one of many. More farms are disappearing, more families are losing their heritage, and the state continues to do nothing to stop it.
Help Us Save the Next Cranberry Farm
If you don’t want to see another small farm wiped from Massachusetts’ history and turned into a strip mall, now is the time to act. Donate, volunteer, or help spread the word. With your support, we can ensure that another family doesn’t suffer the same fate as the Thompsons—and that the legacy of the Massachusetts cranberry doesn’t die with them.
Until they take action, Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation will continue fighting for the farmers who have been left behind. And if you care about keeping Massachusetts’ cranberry industry alive, now is the time to act. Donate today and help small cranberry farmers survive against the odds. If the government won’t protect our cranberry heritage, we have to do it ourselves.
Save Massachusetts Cranberry Bogs Foundation: Donate today to help preserve the future of New England’s culinary heritage.