Agriculture and food processing
Macomb County might be best known for its manufacturing prowess, but point the compass north, and you’ll find more than 400 active farms spread over 73,000 acres. That is 20% of the county’s total land mass.
In addition, Macomb County has also more than 70 food manufacturing businesses picked up by well known distribution and logistics companies like Carmela Foods and Lipari Foods.The county has benefitted from the huge growth in the food processing industry. It is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surrounded by the Great Lakes and bordered by beautiful Lake St. Clair, Macomb County has more than ample clean fresh water for sustaining agriculture and food processing.
Why Macomb County?
- Ranked in the top 5% of all counties nationwide in the dollar amount of products sold for nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod products. (Source: USDA Census data)
- Food processors in Macomb County purchase more than $26.5 million in agricultural crops annually, of which 46.7% comes from Macomb County farms. (Source: EMSI)
- 404 working farms, with an average size of 182 acres
Workforce snapshot
30%
Projected job growth from 2017-2027
2,489
Jobs in 2017
2,916
Jobs in 2022
3,224
Projected jobs in 2027
72
Establishments
Important industry data
Total crops by acreage
- 35,141 for soybeans
- 14,525 for corn for grain
- 3,763 for forage
(Source: Agricultural Census data)
Warehouse sales data
$78.8 million in total products sold
- $21.7 million in grains, oil seeds, dry bean and dry peas
- $35.7 million in nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod
- $6.5 million in vegetables, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes
- $3 million in milk from cows
(Source: Agricultural Census data)
Programs available for businesses
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Food and Agriculture Investment Fund
- MDARD Value Added and Regional Food Systems grants
- MDARD Branded program for cash reimbursement
Industry partners
- Macomb Community College
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation
- Michigan Manufacturing Technical Center
- St. Clair/Macomb Michigan Works!
- SCORE SE Michigan
- Small Business Development Center
- Sterling Heights Velocity Center
Top companies
- Achatz Handmade Pie Co
- Blake Farms & Hard Cider Co.
- Bosco’s Pizza Co.
- Ethel’s Edibles
- Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
- National Coney Island
- Nino Salvaggio
- Safie Specialty Foods
- Sanders & Morley Candy Makers Inc.
- Westview Orchards
Contact us
To learn more about our free and confidential services.
Program Director Jack Johns
Call: 586-256-7487