Agriculture Powers One Fifth of the U.S. Economy

Across the Southeast, you do not need a report to tell you agriculture matters. You see it in your fields, your crews, and your communities every day.

Still, the latest Feeding the Economy report puts real scale behind that impact. Food and agriculture generate more than 10.4 trillion dollars in annual economic value, nearly one fifth of the U.S. economy. The sector supports 48.7 million jobs, including over 24 million directly tied to farming, processing, transportation, retail, and food service.

Wages across the industry now top 3 trillion dollars, with steady growth over the past decade. Food manufacturing remains the largest manufacturing sector in the country, employing more than 2.28 million people.

As Cathy Burns with the International Fresh Produce Association says, "This study highlights the indispensable value of U.S. agriculture and the resilience of the fresh produce and floral industries as they continue to deliver nutritious food and meaningful products to consumers."

Challenges remain, especially around exports and farm-level pressures, but agriculture continues to anchor rural economies across the Southeast.

For more, visit https://feedingtheeconomy.com/press-release/