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

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

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

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

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”

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

Local Success Stories

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

Food Recognition & Sense of Place

• BBQ and meat markets• Oysters, Flounder, Shrimp• Sausage• Rice• Coffee• Festivals

• Crabs, Gators, Strawberries, Mayhaw, Crawfish, Rice

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

Opportunities

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

Local Agriculture Along the Transect

http://www.urbanhabitatchicago.org/projects/true-nature-foods/slideshow.php

Chuck WempleEconomic Development Program Manager

Phone 713-993-4514cwemple@h-gac.com

www.h-gac.com