So why is Ohio and the Midwest feeding California?

So why is Ohio and the Midwest feeding California?

You heard right. You've heard how California brags about being the fourth largest economy, guess who feeds it?

Ohio and the broader Midwest play a major role in “feeding” California. The Midwest (including Ohio) supplies the grains, soybeans, animal feed, and meat that underpin California’s food system and livestock industries.

🌽 Midwest-to-California Food Flow

• Grains & Oilseeds:
  • Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are among the top producers of corn and soybeans, which are shipped nationwide.
  • California’s massive dairy and poultry sectors rely heavily on Midwestern feed grains. Without Midwest corn and soymeal, California’s dairy dominance would collapse.
• Animal Products:
  • States like Iowa and Nebraska export pork and beef, while Ohio contributes dairy and poultry.
  • California consumes far more meat and dairy than it produces locally, so Midwest imports balance the equation.
• Processed Foods & Ingredients:
  • Ohio’s food manufacturing sector exports processed grains, dairy powders, and packaged foods that end up in California’s retail and institutional markets.