With over 230 food, feed and seed crops, the diversity of Washington state's agriculture is exceeded only by California. The bounty from the waters bordering the state to the west supports a thriving seafood industry. This natural wealth, combined with the state's proximity to world markets, have made Washington one of the leading exporters of food and agricultural products. An International Crossroads of Agriculture Agriculture plays a vital role in Washington's economy, employing roughly 140,000 citizens and accounting for a fifth of the state's annual gross product. We lead the United States in the production of many crops from apples to wheat, hops to red raspberries, and our commodities set industry standards for quality.
Fleets bring in salmon, crab and bottom fish for processing.
Their catches supply half of the nation's seafood and are frozen and stored for ultimate distribution around the world. In addition, Washington salmon, oyster and clam farmers increasingly ship products overseas and are major suppliers for the domestic US market. Washington state's food processing companies transform this bounty into value-added, quality products for international markets. This sector is the state's second-largest manufacturing industry, employing over 38,000 workers. In a state dependent on international exports, Washington's agricultural sector exports overseas almost a third of its production and accounts for nearly a tenth of Washington's total exports abroad.