Greg Fanning, a cranberry grower from Wisconsin Rapids, currently serves as president of the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center’s board of directors.

“I'm a second-generation cranberry grower, having gotten started when my dad and I purchased a small abandoned property near Wisconsin Rapids in 1980,” says Greg.

Over the years, Greg has increased his plantings to 70 acres of cranberry vines. The varieties he grows include Stevens, Pilgrim and the new HyRed cranberry. Developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, HyRed is the first publicly developed cranberry variety released in more than 30 years.Greg is involved with the trials on the new hybrid.

“Normally new beds are started with cuttings taken from existing beds. But we’ll be using plant plugs started from small cuttings and grown in a greenhouse on site since vine material is still in short supply,” he explains.

In addition to serving on the Discovery Center’s board of directors, Greg is a past director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association and the Wisconsin Cranberry Board.

“I've always been a firm believer in public education and in promotion of our industry. I think the Discovery Center is an important part of that philosophy. This project has been a stellar example of how dedicated volunteers from several organizations used their creative talents and time to develop a facility that will serve the public, the industry and the Warrens community for many years into the future,” says Greg.