Cranberry giant hit with antitrust lawsuit

Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 | 10:47 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Northland Cranberries Inc. of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., has filed an antitrust lawsuit in Washington against Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., alleging the cooperative has monopolized the cranberry products industry to the detriment of its competitors and consumers.

Lakeville, Mass.-based Ocean Spray, operator of a plant in Henderson, said it competes fairly and would defend itself in court.

The lawsuit says Ocean Spray's arrangement with foreign growers helps to tie up cranberry production and sales of cranberry concentrate.

Ocean Spray, which is owned by its 900 growers, had sales of just over $1 billion in fiscal 2002.

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