Looking for the drivers for a new economy in the highly impacted Sacramento Valley, a highly praised regional think tank came up with four key areas of focus. Among the technology, green energy and healthcare initiatives, one economic cluster stood out like a sunflower in a cornfield – agriculture!
It is no accident that agriculture is being recognized as key to the Sacramento region’s economic success today and far into the future. An analysis of jobs created, importance to rural communities and support of the environment and open space all clearly point to something we in agriculture have known for a long time but have largely kept to ourselves- agriculture is a big deal and it’s good business.
The game changer is that regional economic groups like Valley Vision are actively embracing agriculture as vital to the region. In fact, they have been the ones reaching out to agriculture. Frankly we were caught off guard.
To say it’s odd to be in a meeting with urban business leaders, local elected officials and economic development staff and have all of them talking about the need to support and grow agriculture in the region is an understatement. Honestly I have to keep telling myself it’s real.
Not only is it real, it is vital. This may be the best opportunity since the 1950s,when people actually knew farmers, allowing growers and urban folks to reconnect around shared interests. If there’s a bright side in this tough economic time, it’s that forward thinking organizations like Valley Vision and their NEXT Economy project have a view of the future that goes beyond the traditional and embraces a new paradigm- one that rightly recognizes agriculture as a key component of a healthy economy and our rural communities.
Tim Johnson, CRC President & CEO
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