Almost every aspect of the proposal recognizes the value of niche markets to Mississippi's economy. The report identified a number of opportunities to enhance the development of niche markets, such as biotechnology research programs, the development of new and improved agricultural and forestry products, improved systems of coordination and communication of product information, and expanded trade opportunities. Value-added strategies were promoted throughout the task force report, as well. Value is added to raw materials by processing, refining, manufacturing, transporting, grading, assembling, packaging, and delivering products in a form that more closely matches the consumers' preferences. Policymakers, community leaders, and economic development practitioners are interested in the promise of value-added strategies to revitalize rural communities.
Economists distinguish between traditional and innovative value-added activities.
Traditional activities include meatpacking, bulk wholesaling, retailing, and farmers' markets. Other innovations, such as direct marketing, biotechnology, industrial uses for agricultural and forestry products and nontraditional crops as industrial inputs provide additional value-added opportunities. Traditional value-added activities are serving to ameliorate depressed rural farm community economies. Food processing was the largest rural value-added industry, accounting for nearly 14 percent of value added in rural manufacturing. Lumber and wood products, and paper products each generated more than 7 percent of value added in rural manufacturing.