What is the Food and Agriculture Sector’s Impact in Your Community?
The 2025 Feeding the Economy report continues to show that the U.S. food and agriculture sector is a foundational pillar of American culture and commerce. These industries directly support over 24 million jobs (15% of U.S. employment) and are responsible for more than $9.5 trillion of the country’s economic activity – about one-fifth of total U.S. output.
It begins in the rich soil of America’s farms and ranches – nearly two million of them – spread across the heartland and stretching to the coasts, covering two out of every five American acres.
Next, millions of food scientists, production workers, logistics experts, truck drivers, and engineers work in almost 200,000 food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities to keep our food supply chains strong to ensure fresh, safe food is readily available at home and abroad.
The journey may continue at one of the nation’s more than one million restaurant and foodservice locations or an item might make its way from one of roughly 200,000 retail food stores to American homes or gatherings where people enjoy the nation’s bounty.
The story doesn’t stop there! Economic benefits continue as workers in the food and agriculture industries spend their income, helping support local economies, particularly in rural America.