Montana Value-Added Agriculture
Agriculture Treasures from Montana
Montana's food and fiber products are winning the trust of consumers around the world. Montana's clean environment and its reputation for hard-working, honest people has increased its product visibility among the growing number of consumers interested in healthful and hearty foods to add to their diets.
A growing interest among producers to supply distinctive products to a specific segment of a market is emerging. Organic and gourmet foods are gaining popularity among producers and consumers alike. A commitment to provide high quality specialty products fosters the recognition among consumers that Montana-made products are the best of their kind. A few of the products processed here include honey, beer, ice cream, food seasonings, baked goods and mixes, meat snacks, boxed beef and pork, confections, smoked fish, pizza crusts, pasta, safflower and canola oil, breakfast cereals, flour, jams, and sauces. Non-food products include Christmas trees, livestock feed, cashmere and wool apparel, and gift items.
A diverse climate and fertile soil helps Montana farmers and ranchers produce a wide variety of high quality products. While beef and wheat are our two largest commodities, many other products add to the state's agriculture base.
Wheat
Montana ranks fifth among the states for the production of wheat. Montana's scientific ingenuity has created a wheat plant so high in protein that countries around the world demand it and the high quality bakery products produced from it. Many Montana companies use our wheat to make the wholesome cereals, nutritious pasta products, and tastes-like-homemade breads and other baked goods consumers expect.
Beef
Montana supports almost three million head of cattle. Our environment yields cattle hardy enough to endure a wide range of climatic conditions. This, combined with the commitment of Montana's ranchers to their land and livestock, has established Montana as a leader in purebred and commercial cattle production. The superior genetics of Montana seed stock adds value to the beef industry as our seed stock is demanded worldwide. Montana's food producers process our beef into high quality boxed beef and specialty products such as jerky, sausage and pasties.
Sheep
Montana produced 4.4 million pounds of wool in 1995, with an average fleece weight of 9.4 pounds. Nationally, Montana ranks 4th in the nation for lamb production. Lamb processed in the state is shipped to markets around the world nationwide.
Honey
Montana is known as a leading producer of premium table honey. Our abundant supply of sweet clover and alfalfa produces a golden light tasting honey that is preferred by households.
Spring Water
The waters of the Montana Rockies have long been known to be the freshest and purest in the world. Recently, Montanan's have begun to bottle their Rocky Mountain spring water so it can be purchased at convenience and grocery stores everywhere.
Cherries
Montana produces an average of 730 tons of sweet cherries every year. Cherries produced in the clean Rocky Mountains of Montana are so sweet they are shipped fresh throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, or they are enjoyed from the many roadside stands throughout the Flathead Valley. They are also used as an ingredient in fruit juices, desserts, and cordials.
Dairy
Montana produces over 300 million pounds (35 million gallons) of milk annually making dairy an important industry in the state. Montana manufactures about one million pounds of butter, four million pounds of cottage cheese, and one million gallons of ice cream. In all, Montana's dairy farmers add about $40 million dollars to the state's economy.
Safflower & Canola
Edible oil demand is rapidly changing as people increasingly limit their consumption of saturated fats. Canola and safflower oils are lower in saturated fat than any other kind of vegetable oil. Montana's producers and processors of these oils are committed to making high quality products that give your foods a light and natural taste.
Other Specialty Products
Other fine products produced in Montana include food seasonings, tea, jam and syrup, candy and confections, barbeque and mexican sauces, soups, granola, tortillas, food supplements, freshwater fish products, and gourmet popcorn. These products reflect Montana's commitment to quality. They give their products the special attention to detail and excellence consumers have come to depend on from them.
High Value Crops & Livestock
There are a number of specialty crops and livestock produced in Montana. These include organic wheat and barley, peas, lentils, corn, garlic, potatoes, sugar beets, mint, herbs, buckwheat, apples, kamut, sunflowers, vegetables, Christmas trees, emu, ostriches, game animals, organic beef and dairy, and freshwater trout.
Helping You Connect with Montana Producers
The Montana Department of Agriculture marketing representatives match Montana products with potential buyers and sellers. We promote Montana's livestock, grain, and other value-added products worldwide through trade shows and delegations.
Small and mid-sized food processors are assisted in development of domestic and international markets.
A variety of promotional and educational literature
is published about Montana's agricultural industry
including the Montana Agricultural
Resource Directory. The directory is a comprehensive
listing of Montana agricultural product suppliers.
To get your free copy of The Montana Agricultural Buyers Directory, contact the Marketing Office by:
Phone: (406)444-2402
Mail: P.O. Box 200201 Helena, MT 59620
e-mail: agr@mt.gov.
