Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston
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Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston
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Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston. Sizing Up the Region. Female Operators 2,700 farms - 333,000 acres Male Operators 17,300 farms - 4,300,000 acres Family Farm – Individual Operator 18,260 farms - 3,390,000 acres. Farmer Age. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston
Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston
Sizing Up the Region
• Female Operators– 2,700 farms - 333,000 acres
• Male Operators– 17,300 farms - 4,300,000 acres
• Family Farm – Individual Operator– 18,260 farms - 3,390,000 acres
Farmer Age
Region compared to State
• Rice 80%, - 162,000 acres• Soy 20% - 39,000 acres (>1 million bushels)• Sorghum 11% - 175,000 acres• Orchards 7% - 14,800 acres• Corn 7% - 119,000 acres• Vegetables 3% - 3,400 acres
Production examples
• Chickens– 83,500– 0.02% state– 90% of region’s production in Walker County
• Soy– Wharton – 19,000 acres– Matagorda - 8,800 acres– Liberty - 4,400 acres
Value of the Land• Market Value of Ag products sold– $602,000,000 total– $374,000,000 crops– $228,000,000 livestock
• Estimated Market Value – Land & Buildings– Average of $1,845 per acre– $906 – Chambers– $2,809 – Montgomery– $768 – State average
Mixed BagLocal & Global Opportunities
• Sysco & Walmart• National and International Brands• Exploding desire for Farmers Markets• Diverse population• Strong small business presence• Import/Export Maritime Shipping• International investment• “Houston Lag Effect”
What’s Out There?• Wild Caught seafood• Grass-fed Beef• Watermelon• Tofu• Goat milk• Bullfrogs• Eggs• Wine• Blueberries
Local Success Stories
• Houston Dairy Maids• Tropic Lightning• Haak Vineyard and Winery• Blue Bell Ice Cream• Chappell Hill Sausage• San San Tofu• Hallal meat
Food Recognition & Sense of Place
• BBQ and meat markets• Oysters, Flounder, Shrimp• Sausage• Rice• Coffee• Festivals
• Crabs, Gators, Strawberries, Mayhaw, Crawfish, Rice
Business Challenges
• Lack of technical assistance & grants • Workforce (especially value-added)• Cheap v. Quality and Local• Broker• Consistent supply• Year round expectation for seasonal crops– Seafood– Business leakage– Drought, flood, fire, storms, disease, pollinator decline
Opportunities
• Growers• Processors• Distributors• Brokers• Community Development Organizations• Value-added• Cultural niches• Chefs
Local Agriculture Along the Transect
