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Food Solutions a Huge Part of Missouri’s Economy

  • April 10, 2017

Missouri's robust food production sector is a global leader

In the January issue of Trade & Industry Development magazine, reporter Jennifer Alten highlighted Missouri as home of some exciting examples of successful agricultural businesses and food processing centers.

Missouri’s robust food production sector includes more than 300 companies, with the capacity for many more. This is because of the size of the state’s agricultural industry – currently standing at $33 billion—and Missouri’s stature as a leader in agricultural products. Missouri is home to companies like Anheuser-Busch, AB Mauri, Bunge, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Smithfield, Kraft, Purina, Tyson and Unilever. Some recent additions to Missouri’s food solutions sector include Vital Farms and Moon Ridge Foods.

Vital Farms is the largest brand of pasture-raised eggs in the U.S., and it is building a new 80,000-square-foot facility in Springfield, Missouri. The company chose to expand in Springfield because of its central location and built-in distribution infrastructure.

Moon Ridge Foods is a farm-to-plate operation that produces, processes and markets superior-quality pork products. It cut the ribbon on its 110,000-square-foot facility in Pleasant Hope, Missouri, earlier this year. The company invested $54 million in the facility, and 30 percent of its products will be exported to markets in Asia thanks to Missouri’s distribution and logistics strengths.

“Due to Missouri’s central location and extensive distribution infrastructure, companies are making the strategic decision to locate here from a variety of sectors,” said Steve Johnson, CEO of Missouri Partnership. “We give companies rapid access to global markets, extensive distribution options, a friendly regulatory environment and access to a diverse customer base – both regionally and across North America.”

These companies, and almost 400 more, are taking advantage of Missouri’s natural leadership in food solutions, distribution and logistics, and agriculture.

Read the full article in Trade & Industry Development magazine.