What It Means to Be a
Grower-Owner

Ocean Spray isn't a corporation that buys cranberries from farmers. It's a cooperative owned by the farmers themselves.

The Cooperative Model

Owned by Farmers, Not Shareholders

Most people see Ocean Spray juice in the grocery store and assume it's just another beverage company. It's not. Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative—owned and governed by the family farms that grow the cranberries.

When you buy Ocean Spray, you're buying directly from farmers. There's no corporate middleman taking a cut. The families who work the land are the same people who share in the success of the brand.

Elm Lake Cranberry has been an Ocean Spray grower-owner for generations. We're not just suppliers—we're part owners of one of the most recognized fruit brands in the world.

The next generation of Elm Lake Cranberry grower-owners

How It Works

The Grower-Owner Relationship

We Grow

Each member farm grows cranberries on their own land using their own methods. We maintain independence over our farming practices while meeting cooperative quality standards.

We Deliver

At harvest, we deliver our cranberries to Ocean Spray receiving stations. The cooperative handles processing, marketing, and distribution—things no single farm could do alone.

We Share

Proceeds from sales are distributed back to grower-owners based on their deliveries. When Ocean Spray succeeds, the farming families who own it share directly in that success.

Why It Matters

More Than a Business Arrangement

Being a grower-owner shapes how we think about farming. We're not just producing a commodity—we're building something that will outlast us.

Long-Term Thinking

We're invested in the cooperative's future because our children will inherit both the farm and the membership.

Shared Resources

Access to research, agronomists, market data, and processing infrastructure that no family farm could afford alone.

Collective Voice

Grower-owners vote on major decisions. The cooperative answers to farmers, not Wall Street.

Market Stability

The cooperative provides a reliable market for our crop year after year, reducing the uncertainty that comes with farming.

"When you're an owner, you think differently. You're not just farming for this year's check—you're building something for the next generation."

— Elm Lake Cranberry Family

A Shared History

Over 60 Years of Partnership

Ocean Spray was founded in 1930 when three cranberry growers decided they could accomplish more together than apart. What started as a small marketing cooperative has grown into one of the largest fruit cooperatives in the world.

The Elm Lake Cranberry operation joined Ocean Spray in 1963, just as the cooperative was transforming cranberry juice into a household staple. Since then, we've been part of every major chapter—the rise of Craisins, the expansion into international markets, and the evolution of a farmer-owned cooperative into one of the most recognized brands in agriculture.

Through it all, the fundamental idea has stayed the same: farmers working together, sharing resources, and building something bigger than any one farm could build alone.

Questions About Our Cooperative?

We're happy to talk about what it means to be part of Ocean Spray. Reach out if you'd like to learn more.

What It Means to Be a Grower-Owner