Plant Your Investment, Watch it Grow
At the heart of one of the most diverse and abundant agribusiness clusters in the country, West Michigan is a center for farming and food processing innovation. According to a 2009 analysis, West Michigan’s agribusiness sector:
- Produces nearly one-third of Michigan’s total agricultural sales making it one of the most productive regions in a state that is the second-most diverse agricultural market in the U.S.
- Provides more than 26,000 jobs and $579 million in labor income
- Comprises more than 9,000 farms and nearly 1.5 million acres – 1.1 million acres of which are harvested crop land.
- Benefits from rail, deepwater ports, the state’s second-largest airport, and a transportation infrastructure that offers same-day delivery to Minneapolis, Toronto, Memphis and other major hubs.
Contributing more than $1.6 billion to the regional economy, West Michigan’s agricultural and food processing clusters are among the top 25 percent of their U.S. peers. Our state’s unique combination of soil, climate and weather patterns has created one of the most diverse agricultural sectors in the nation, ranking second only to California. Surrounded by 20 percent of the world’s fresh water, Michigan’s water abundance also makes it a natural choice for large-scale farming and food processing.
West Michigan is home to several national and internationally recognized brands,
click here to see the companies.