What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of agribusiness? Chicken? Cheese? Steak? Chicken cheesesteaks? Well, that’s not the most common visual representation; however, all three products are components of the agribusiness industry. Too often, the term “agribusiness” is symbolized solely of rural depictions such as cows, tractors, corn fields, barns, etc. All of these images are indeed elements of farms and are indicative of the production aspect of agribusiness. However, there is more to agribusiness than just farms in rural communities. The food and fiber industry makes up the other end of the agribusiness continuum and commonly exists within metropolitan and industrial areas. Dairy products manufacturers, fruit and vegetable wholesalers, large scale bakeries, sausage manufacturers, slaughterhouses, nurseries, juice manufacturers, wineries, and canning operations are just a few examples of agribusiness currently underwritten through Westfield’s Agribusiness Division.
Agribusiness is a multifaceted industry that often depicts the content of what it encompasses using taglines like “farm to fork”, “gate to plate” or “pasture to plate”. An alternative way of assessing agribusiness would be to observe the perimeter of the grocery store; fruit & produce, meat, dairy products, seafood, and bread products. Envision the different phases of production, processing, logistics, and distribution those food products undergo to arrive at the grocery store, THAT’S AGRIBUSINESS and the industry Westfield is dedicated to proudly serve!
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Guest Author: Jason McCorkle is an AgriBusiness Field Manager who currently underwrites farm and commercial agribusiness accounts out of our Lancaster, PA office. His agricultural upbringing, Agricultural Business Management degree from Penn State University and passion for modern agriculture are the foundation to understanding and serving Westfield Agribusiness customers.
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