This is a useful new report that anticipates how climate change will impact Massachusetts. The most novel predicted impact relates to the future of the state's cranberry production. Here is a direct quote:
"Cranberry Production
Massachusetts growers have cultivated cranberries since the 19th century, though Native Americans and early settlers in the Northeast harvested them long before that.[87] In 2012, 43,918 acres of cranberries on 1,040 farms were harvested across the United States, concentrated primarily in Massachusetts (14,070 acres) and Wisconsin (20,641 acres).[88] In Massachusetts, cranberries make up the vast majority of the berry harvest, which generated more than $100 million in sales in 2012 in total.[89] Cranberry production should not be expected to end in Massachusetts due to climate change, but yields may suffer and producers may need to shoulder financial burdens in order to maintain their current level of production.
Like apples, cranberry vines grow according to a chilling requirement, meaning depending on variety, they must experience a specific number of days under a certain temperature threshold in order to produce fruit.[90] Earlier, warmer spring temperatures could prevent crops from achieving their chilling requirement.[91] What’s more, even if spring temperatures arrive earlier, cranberry producers must be vigilant in terms of night time frosts that threaten cranberry vines. Producers do have methods at their disposal to avoid frost damage, but they may require a significant financial investment.[92]
Increasing temperatures in the summer months will have implications for cranberry growth and productivity. A 1996 study found early cranberry growth to be most rapid in areas with moderate temperatures between about 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.[93] If there were more hot days in July or more cold days in August, the study found berries took longer to grow.[94] A 2013 study found flowering time changes for Massachusetts cranberries are related to changes in temperature, similar to other plants in the Northeast.[95] The study found on average, cranberry flowering occurs two days earlier for every 1 degree Celsius increase in May temperatures.[96] Though flowering times had not experienced statistically significant changes on average since the 1980s, the authors of the study note in years when flowering times occur earlier, workers need to be available earlier and harvesting and processing must happen earlier.[97] In those years, which may occur more frequently in coming decades, producers must compare the advantages and disadvantages of early harvests to late harvests.[98]
Though cranberry vines thrive in wetland conditions, increased precipitation could cause flooding that submerges vines for longer than they can stand, which impacts productivity.[99] Rising sea levels are concerning for similar reasons; ocean incursion may flood bogs at non-ideal stages of cranberry development and saltwater can have detrimental effects on the crop."
Note that at the end of the first paragraph the authors acknowledge that they can adapt to the new challenges. I respect their honesty. This adaptation isn't costless but they don't bother being specific about how costly it will be or who will bear the incidence (i.e final consumers or producers in MA).
Note that for each of the challenges listed above, human ingenuity and investment can offset these challenges. Cranberries will continue to thrive.