By the Numbers: Agriculture’s Economic Reach

Here in California, you do not need a report to tell you agriculture matters. You see it in your orchards, your fields, and your crews every day.

Still, the latest Feeding the Economy report puts real scale behind that impact. Across the country, 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 tied directly 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 Krysta Harden with the U.S. Dairy Export Council says, "Meeting the nutrition needs of the 95% of the world's population living outside our borders is an all-hands-on-deck challenge, and the U.S. dairy industry continues to meet and exceed expectations."

Here in California, where specialty crops and export markets play a major role, the report underscores challenges around trade and costs. Even so, agriculture continues to anchor local economies across the state. For a full breakdown, visit FeedingTheEconomy.com.