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Southern Idaho: A Rich Food Basket

Food crops, science, processing, distribution drive economy

By Laura Hill on December 13, 2017

Twin Falls, ID
Twin Falls / Courtesy of Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle Foods are produced in Twin Falls, ID.

When Americans sit down to dinner, it’s likely that they’re about to take a taste of Southern Idaho.

For years known as one of the country’s important agricultural regions, today Southern Idaho is leading the way in crop production, food processing and distribution, thanks to its natural resources and modern infrastructure that helps growers and processors get products to their destinations efficiently. Food is the bedrock of the local economy, responsible for thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact.

“The food production/processing industry is THE most important industry cluster, as food production, processing and science companies dominate the regional economy,” says Carleen Herring, president of Region IV Development Association, Inc.  “Southern Idaho’s food cluster is also a major driver for the State of Idaho economy.” 

In 2015, Southern Idaho was one of four regions in the country given the prestigious national stamp of approval by the U.S. Department of Commerce with a Manufacturing Community Designation in the food category.

Discover the Natural Wonders of Southern Idaho

Food from A to Z

The region’s varied food basket is a large part of its success. Southern Idaho is known for its dairy products, ranking fourth in milk production and third in cheese production nationally. It produces whey protein for smoothies, cheese powder for boxed mac and cheese, French fries, fruit, dry beans, peas and lentils, fruit, wheat and vegetables, trout, malted barley and sugar.

“I liken it to the fact that we have food production from “A to Z” – alligator (raised near the Hagerman Valley) to Zürsun’s Heirloom Beans,” Herring says. 

The area’s food processing sector generates an annual GDP of $1.75 billion and accounts for 24,000 jobs, according to the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO). Southern Idaho dairy alone is responsible for more than $10 billion in gross sales, and nearly 40,000 jobs, and Magic Valley’s 296 dairies and 416,919 cows in 2016 produced 10.54 billion pounds of milk.

Chobani operates the world’s largest yogurt-producing plant, and McCain Foods in Burley is the world’s largest producer of French fries. Other top players — too many to mention all — include Amalgamated Sugar, Clif Bar, Independent Meat Company, Lamb Weston, Idaho Milk Products, Clear Springs Foods, Jerome Cheese and Glanbia Nutritionals. 

 

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