October 12th is National Farmer’s Day, and Ohio’s food and agriculture industry (the largest industry in the state) contributes $124 billion annually to our state’s economy. Most of us are a few generations removed from the farm; in fact, most don’t raise any of our own food. Thanks to the 75,462 farmers whose products are as diverse as the farms that raise them, along with the popularity of farmers’ markets, Ohioans have access to a bounty of delicious and nutritious food and value-added products.
In your travels through Delaware County and central Ohio, it appears that corn and soybeans are our most popular crops. Ohio ranks sixth in soybean production and seventh in the nation for corn exports. But did you know that Ohio ranks third in the U.S. in pumpkin production and sixth in flower production? Or that we produced 490,000 pounds of wool? We rank fourth in hard ice cream, yum.
Agriculture may seem old fashioned and ho-hum, but hold on to your hat. New on the scene is crickets. Yes, crickets have joined the list of nontraditional agriculture products grown in Ohio, keeping company with sod, honey, fish, shrimp, mushrooms, and hops. Big Cricket Farms, Youngtown, is the first insect farm in the United States to receive FDA and state licensure for food-grade insects. When you sit down to dinner on October 12, celebrate Ohio’s top industry, agriculture, by savoring every bite.
