Michigan Vegetable Council tells House committee industry supports about $5.39 billion and 26,400 jobs

Greg, representing the Michigan Vegetable Council, told the Michigan House Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources Committee that a newly released economic-impact report based on Michigan State University data shows the state's vegetable industry generates approximately $5,390,000,000 in annual economic activity and supports about 26,400 jobs.

The presentation, released at the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo and described by the council as version 2 of the report, summarized 2022 USDA/NASS-based figures: roughly 3,213 vegetable farms on about 152,833 acres, direct farm sales of about $1.19 billion for roughly 7,800 workers, and larger totals when processing is included.

Jamie Clover Adams, who identified herself as CEO of the Michigan Asparagus Association and executive director of the Michigan Food Processors Association (speaking in her capacity as a member of the Michigan Vegetable Council), said roughly 60% of Michigan-grown vegetables go into processing and described processing as a major driver of rural economic impact. "Processors are facing changing discharge standards without notice, without explanation, and without an opportunity for input," she told the committee, linking regulatory uncertainty to threats to processors' competitiveness.

Chris Folack, president of the Michigan Vegetable Council and a longtime procurement executive at Gerber, said Michigan's climate and water resources make it a national leader in key specialty crops and urged continued state support to keep processing and growing operations in Michigan.

The presenters highlighted industry infrastructure — the council counts about 36 frozen-food processors and 165 canned-food processors in the state — and described outreach such as farm tours designed to show legislators how processing works.

The committee discussion ranged from labor and seasonal-worker counts (presenters said the employment figures include part-time and seasonal workers, including visa workers) to the role of Michigan State University research and extension in responding to pests and other evolving threats. The presenters urged the committee to keep Michigan agriculture and its research funding a priority.

The committee moved on after the presentation to a separate agenda item on pending bills affecting small-scale producers and processing wash water, where testimony continued.