Orchards to Fields: Unveiling Washington State’s Top Agricultural Riches

In case you missed it, Washington is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. The Washington State Department of Agriculture reports that the state's farmers produce over 300 commodities.

What makes Washington state's land great for growing crops?

According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, there are many reasons why agriculture and food production is so successful here. Geographically, there are over 15 million acres of rich farmland. Plus, the volcanic soils being so close to the ocean creates moist environments that are perfect for growing.

What makes Washington state's agricultural operation so successful?

Aside from the fact that the land itself is so fertile, facilities and energy costs play a large role in the state's success too. The farms and food production facilities are located close to "cold storage complexes, ports, rail lines, and major transportation corridors" so that they can easily be transported. Washington also has some of the lowest energy costs in the nation. All of that makes for an agricultural haven.

Now let's talk about what and how much Washington produces in commodities. Take a scroll through this list and prepare to be impressed with the state's crop kingdom.

With numbers like that, it's obvious that there are a ton of farms in the state. Washington has over 35,000 farms, and 96% of those are family-owned. Most of those farms are small and sell less than $250,000 per year, according to the WSDA.

See how we compare to other states like Idaho and Montana.