About Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's economy ranks 14th in the world. Its food and beverage industry ranks as its largest manufacturing sector. The food processing and manufacturing sector ranks first in the U.S. northeast and third within the nation. Each year the state's food processors ship goods worth more than $22 billion across the nation and around the world.

While its $5 billion snack food industry has led some to call Pennsylvania the "Snack Food Capitol of the World," it food industry is very diverse, perhaps, second only to California in its breadth. Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty foods account for 9% of total food manufacturing, dairy products for 13%, bakery products for 16%, sugar and confections for 17%, meat products for 18% and other diverse, misc. products for 16%.

Farming and food manufacturing are a tradition in the rolling Pennsylvania country side. Pennsylvania's location, agricultural programs and its universities have been instrumental in maintaining and growing their importance within the state, while its diverse ethnic heritage and the Commonwealth's vision are changing its food industry to keep pace with changing consumer demands and concerns.

Agricultural Tradition

Pennsylvania has a strong food processing tradition dating back to colonial times, when it was known as the breadbasket of America. Today, it has more than 2,300 food companies, ranging from small businesses that grade and package fresh eggs to large corporations, such as Hershey Foods, which uses about 1 million pounds of milk per day.

The state's 58,200 farms cover 7.75 million acres (3.14 million hectares). Farmers produce a diverse mix of products, providing manufacturers easy, local access to fresh, quality raw materials. Pennsylvania's crop production, while varied, is prolific, as the production of many crops ranks among the highest in the U.S. Pennsylvania is the number one producer of mushrooms. It is among the top five states in producing apples, tart cherries, peaches, pears, and strawberries. It ranks among the top ten in grape, sweet corn and tomato production; and in the livestock sector, it is number one in table egg production and ranks among the top five in fluid milk production and among the top ten in commercial cattle, swine and sheep & lamb slaughter.

Location

Within a 500-mile (805 kilometers) radius of Central Pennsylvania are four of the nine major U.S. markets. This locational advantage has fostered a large, growing food & beverage manufacturing industry within Pennsylvania and resulted in its becoming a major food and beverage distribution center. This region surrounding central Pennsylvania contains:

Registered In Pennsylvania?

Over the years, many consumers across the U.S. have come to recognize the small print on many food product labels "Reg. Penna. Dept. Agr." (Registered Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture). Historically, Pennsylvania has been known to have some of the more exacting food manufacturing regulations in the U.S. If food manufacturers registered their products in Pennsylvania, this was indication they met requirements in other states. Today, Pennsylvania's leadership continues, as is exemplified by such programs as the following:

Food Marketing Education for Tomorrow

Visiting Pennsylvania