The nation and Wisconsin are expected to have their second-largest cranberry harvests ever this fall, the National Agricultural Statistics Service said Tuesday.

The nation’s cranberry crop is forecast at 6.89 million barrels, up 5 percent from 2007 and slightly below the record set in 2006. A barrel weighs 100 pounds.

Wisconsin is expected to lead the nation in cranberry production for the 14th consecutive year.

The state’s cranberry crop is forecast at 3.85 million barrels, slightly above 2007 but 2 percent less than in 2006. A cool, wet spring delayed bloom and extended the growing season, the federal agency said. Vine growth during the summer started poorly because of high amounts of rain but improved as temperatures and sunlight increased in July.

Wisconsin growers hope for warm weather through August and cooling temperatures heading into fall to help the berries ripen and turn red for harvest, said Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

The area’s cranberry crop looks good so far, said Jacki Lundt, who with husband Bob owns Arpin Cranberry marsh near Warrens. “There was some hail earlier, which was kind of sporadic,” she said. “We didn’t get hit real hard.”

The Lundts probably will begin harvesting cranberries about the third week of October, as usual, Lundt said.

It takes them about 11 days to complete the harvest.

The Lundts expect to sell their crop for about $52.50 a barrel, up from a year ago. They need a price of at least $37 a barrel just to recover costs, Lundt estimated. “From the (price) crash in 2000, prices have gone up steadily each year,” she said.

Cranberry industry officials say one reason for growing demand for the product is an aggressive international marketing effort that began in 1999 and has increased cranberry exports to about 27 percent of the crop.

Other factors in increased demand include research on the cranberry’s health benefits and creativity by manufacturers in introducing cranberries and sweetened dried cranberries into products.