Celebrating Southern Idaho’s Agriculture Community – Happy National Ag Day!

As a region nicknamed “America’s Most Diverse Food Basket,” agriculture is at the heart of who we are. In fact, since 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce has designated us as an “All Things Food” Manufacturing Community—making Southern Idaho the fourth and smallest region in the U.S. to earn this prestigious stamp of approval.

“This place is going to be like a Silicon Valley of food innovation.” - Chobani CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya

This strong agricultural base is due in part by our unique location, coined the “Magic Valley” after more than 15,000 years ago canals carried water from the Snake River to the desert soil to create the productive farmland we have today. 

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And contrary to popular belief, we don’t just grow potatoes in Idaho (but we’re pretty proud of that, too). Few if any other region in the country has the depth in agribusiness we have here in the Magic Valley. The area produces sugar beets, potatoes, barley, winter/summer wheat, alfalfa hay, corn, and seed production as well as pork processing, cattle/calves, dairy production/processing, aquaculture, lamb, mink, and honey.

​Food production, processing and science serve as the economic foundation for our region, which leads Idaho’s agribusiness industry and contributes nearly half of the state’s record $9.7 billion total ag receipts.

​We’re proud that our agribusiness foundation and business-friendly climate has helped companies in our region thrive, including: 

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• Chobani
• Glanbia Foods
• CLIF Bar
• Con Agra/Lamb-Weston

• McCain Foods
• Clear Springs Foods
• Amalgamated Sugar
  
• and Monsanto Wheat Technology, to name a few.

National Ag Day, March 20, is about recognizing—and celebrating—the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. And that’s why it’s a special day to celebrate in Southern Idaho. So today, thank your local farmer, processor, food scientist and everyone in the agricultural community for providing us the food we put on our tables each day. Happy National Ag Day!