The steel industry needs efficient and inexpensive transportation, since much of the production takes place on the south shore of Lake Michigan, where iron and limestone arrive on ore boats and coking coal from Ohio and Pennsylvania is shipped in by rail. The largest Indiana steel producer is U.S. Steel s Gary Works, which employs 7,800 people and produces 7.5 million tons of raw steel per year. A joint venture between Bethlehem Steel and Novamerican Steel is currently in limited production, with plans for full-bore production slated for September 2001. Ky. Tubes from the Indiana plant will feed and complement the line in Kentucky. The Indiana Department of Commerce partnered with the city of Jeffersonville and the Indiana Port Commission to help secure the project for the state.
Ports continue to play a significant role in Indiana s growth.
Pop Culture et Al. About 66,000 Indiana farms have formed a strong link between agriculture and agribusiness. Indiana grows one fifth of the nation s popcorn, ranking it in first place most years. It is the birthplace of popcorn mogul Orville Redenbacher, and home to other successful popcorn companies such as Weaver Popcorn Co. of Van Buren and Ramsey Popcorn Co. of Harrison County, maker of Cousin Willie s. The Gettelfinger Popcorn Co. produces as many as 20 million pounds of popcorn per year.