Agriculture’s Hold on the Commonwealth
November 2000
Since colonial times, Massachusetts has held fast to its cherished legacy as an agricultural state. Though Massachusetts ranks 43rd among all states in agricultural production, it ranks 14th in net farm income per farm operation and 4th in net farm income per acre. Meanwhile the Commonwealth's food processing sector, ranked 26th among states, has been growing since the 1970s and now employs 20,000 people.
