Conversations with the city: Fewer than 2 percent of our nation's population can claim direct ties to production agriculture

摘要

Orchardists represent a sliver of American agriculture. Most of our nation's farmers grow field crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. Many raise livestock, for meat or dairy. Others in the produce sector tend fields of potatoes or carrots or lettuce. All in all, fewer than 2 percent of our nation's 308 million people can claim direct ties to production agriculture.