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Agribusiness

Agribusiness

A leader in agriculture, Pennsylvania is known for the variety and quality of its produce and manufactured food products. From meat and poultry to chocolate and baked goods, the food manufacturing industry in the state accounts for $32 billion in shipments annually and ranks fourth in the nation in value added, ahead of Ohio, Georgia and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania agriculture is known all over the country. Recognizing the importance of supporting the agricultural foundation which has long defined its economy, in 2004 Pennsylvania partnered with companies and stores across the state to launch the PA Preferred® program. The program supports state businesses by promoting local products and has since established an agricultural brand that consumers equate with quality Pennsylvania products.

Diverse Food Production

Pennsylvania is home to a diverse food industry that produces quality products from farm to fork. Its 2,300 food  processing companies rank highly in the shipment of chocolate and cocoa products, 2nd in the shipment of bakery and tortilla foods and animal food manufacturing, and 4th in the sale of potato chips and similar snacks. Pennsylvania’s agribusiness industry has the combined advantages of a strong supply of raw materials and proximity to major consumer markets.

Besides leading the country in mushroom production, the state ranks in the top five in the production of a variety of crops, including apples, corn, strawberries, Christmas trees and maple syrup, as well as livestock and animal products like milk, chickens, trout and eggs. Pennsylvania shipped $32 billion worth of food products in 2011, ranking it among the highest in the country, and it ranked second in beverage product shipment value in the same year with $4.1 billion.

PA Preferred PA Preferred ®

PA Preferred® is the official brand of agriculture products made or grown in Pennsylvania. The program is working with thousands of companies and stores to support and promote Pennsylvania products by allowing licensed members to brand eligible products with the PA Preferred® logo, making it easier to  dentify for the 93% of Pennsylvanians who want to purchase locally-grown food.

 

The Port of Philadelphia is the top destination for Brazilian and Chilean fruit due to  its refrigerated warehouse capacity and refrigerated container capabilities, with cold warehousing lying as close as 90 feet from the dock, minimizing exposure to the elements.

Consumers, retailers, wholesalers and the media recognize the PA Preferred label as a symbol of quality and excellence. The  program works to increase the number of Pennsylvania produced products available to consumers in the state and throughout the U.S.

— Fred Recchiuti, General Manager, Basciani Foods

Impact Measures

Resources

PAgrowsPennsylvania offers a variety of programs that help agricultural businesses succeed, such as the First Industries Fund, the Next Generation Farmer Loan Program and the Infrastructure Development Program, which provide funding specifically for agriculture-related projects that develop or promote the industry.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PAgrows program works with DCED as well as other state and federal entities to provide resources to agricultural businesses and help them understand and access a variety of state and federal financing programs. Between Jan. 18, 2011 and July 18, 2012, more than $3.8 million in funding was leveraged for completed food processing and related projects in the state.

Pennsylvania other areas of activity:

Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Life Science

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