Agricultural exports are a reliable bright spot in the U.S. economy. In fact, every dollar of agricultural exports stimulates another $1.27 in business activity. In 2014 when the United States exported a record $150 billion of agricultural exports, it produced an additional $190.6 billion in economic activity for a total economic output of $340.6 billion. Not only do exports help our economy thrive, they provide jobs for families across the globe.

You can hear from Michigan native, Mary Safie, who has found success selling her gourmet pickled vegetables in the international marketplace thanks to programs and services funded by USDA. As company President, Safie says that exports now constitute 35-40 percent of sales for her business – and she credits USDA and Food Export-Midwest with supporting her every step of the way.

Join us throughout the month of June as we continue to explore how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met. Follow along on usda.gov, on the USDA blog and by using #USDAResults, or catch up on Chapter VI on our Medium site.

In June, we’ll look at how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met.