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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.

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Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston

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  1. Economic Development Potential of Producing Food within 150 miles of Houston

  2. 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

  3. Farmer Age

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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”

  8. What’s Out There? • Wild Caught seafood • Grass-fed Beef • Watermelon • Tofu • Goat milk • Bullfrogs • Eggs • Wine • Blueberries

  9. Local Success Stories • Houston Dairy Maids • Tropic Lightning • Haak Vineyard and Winery • Blue Bell Ice Cream • Chappell Hill Sausage • San San Tofu • Hallal meat

  10. Food Recognition & Sense of Place • BBQ and meat markets • Oysters, Flounder, Shrimp • Sausage • Rice • Coffee • Festivals • Crabs, Gators, Strawberries, Mayhaw, Crawfish, Rice

  11. 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

  12. Opportunities • Growers • Processors • Distributors • Brokers • Community Development Organizations • Value-added • Cultural niches • Chefs

  13. Local Agriculture Along the Transect

  14. Chuck Wemple Economic Development Program Manager Phone 713-993-4514 cwemple@h-gac.com www.h-gac.com

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