How Many Acres Are Used In The Us For Greenhouse-Grown Food?

Global food production contributes to a third of greenhouse gases, 80 of deforestation, 70 of terrestrial biodiversity loss, and 70 of all freshwater use. However, the US has over 8,750 greenhouse vegetable farms, with many projects and expansions underway. The most common crops produced under protection include greenhouses and high tunnels.

Growing demand for fresh, locally sourced produce is driving the growth of greenhouse farming as it bridges the gap between traditional farming methods and sustainable practices. The North American Greenhouse Produce Market size is estimated to reach $3,739 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.8 over 2021-2026. The US greenhouse market is a fertile ground for investors seeking a combination of financial returns and environmental stewardship.

The largest greenhouse vegetable growers in the U.S. are Mastronardi Produce, Windset Farms, and AppHarvest. The total greenhouse vegetable and fresh cut herbs production per state ranges from 20,000 to 39,999 square feet. The US greenhouse market stands as a fertile ground for investors seeking a combination of financial returns and environmental stewardship.

In the U.S., the total farmland in 2020 was 896,600,000 acres, which decreased to 895,300,000 acres in 2021. Greenhouse farming is a viable option for investors seeking a combination of financial returns and environmental stewardship. The US greenhouse vegetable acreage increased by 15% between 2012 and 2017, reaching 2584 acres (1046 ha) and 2250 acres (911 ha).

How many acres of farmland in the US is owned by China?

China owns 384, 000 acres of American agricultural land, a 30% increase since 2019. Representative Mike Collins warned of China’s increasing influence on the US House of Representatives, citing President Xi Jinping’s goal to become the world leader by 2049. China also owns $870 billion in US treasuries, including a significant portion of the Chicago Stock Exchange, AMC movie theaters, General Electric’s appliance division, General Motors, and Smithfield Foods. The US House of Representatives has raised concerns about China’s growing influence in the US.

What almost 90% of US farms are owned by?

The majority of U. S. farms are family farms, accounting for 98 of the total and 86 of farm production. Small family farms operate almost half of the farmland, while large-scale family farms account for the largest share of the value. Farm households are generally neither low-income nor wealth-rich, with median income exceeding all U. S. households but lower than those with self-employment income. Women play a significant role in over half of farm operations, with the majority of principal female operators in poultry and livestock farms. 17 of all principal operators plan to retire within the next five years.

How big is the organic food industry in the US?

The Amber Waves infographic highlights the growth of the U. S. organic market, with retail sales increasing by an average of 8% per year over the past decade. In 2021, organic retail sales were estimated to be over $52 billion, accounting for 5. 5% of all retail food sales. U. S. farms and ranches sold nearly $11 billion in organic products, and imports like organic milk, lettuce, and blueberries are also contributing to the growth. The top category of organically-grown food since the industry began retailing products was fresh fruits and vegetables, with retail sales of these items reaching an estimated $19.

2 billion in 2021. Produce accounted for 40% of U. S. organic food sales in 2021, followed by dairy and eggs (13%), beverages (12%), packaged/prepared foods (11%), bread/grains (9%), snack foods (6%), condiments (5%), and meat/fish/poultry (4%).

How much greenhouse gas does food produce?

Around 25-30% of global emissions come from our food systems, with a rise to around one-third when including all agricultural products. People are increasingly aware that their diet has a climate cost, and the food system contributes to around one-third of emissions. A previous study estimated that the food system was responsible for one-quarter of global emissions, but a new study by Monica Crippa and colleagues in Nature Food estimates a higher share of one-third of emissions. The exact number depends on factors such as deforestation, land use, transport, and packaging.

What is the greenhouse industry in the US?

The U. S. greenhouse market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8. 8 from 2024 to 2030, driven by factors such as rapid urbanization, increasing population, and shrinking arable land. Environmental issues like groundwater depletion and soil degradation are affecting agriculture and food production systems. Greenhouse farming offers year-round crop growth, reduces water wastage, and minimizes pesticide use, fueling market growth. The U. S. market accounts for approximately 10. 52 percent of the global greenhouse market.

Greenhouse farming uses controlled environment agriculture technology, which eliminates or minimizes the use of chemical pesticides, and provides optimal growth year-round. Vertical farm systems provide more crop rotation and use computer databases to manage growth rates.

As urbanization, population growth, climate change, and depleting water resources cause arable land per person to shrink, policymakers face the challenge of ensuring adequate food supply while ensuring sustainability. Advances in technology and automation can enhance food production through innovative farming techniques like greenhouse farming, urban indoor farming, and vertical farming. Greenhouse farming can optimize land use, increase productivity, and increase yield while reducing the environmental footprint. It could emerge as a greener and cleaner farming technique, curbing fossil fuel use and ensuring biosecurity, fueling market growth.

How many acres of greenhouses are there in the USA?

A new study using satellite imagery shows that China dominates the global greenhouse food crop sector, with 60. 4 of the world’s 1. 3 million hectares of greenhouses. Mexico ranks 4th worldwide, with 3. 3 of the global total, despite having a fifth of the US’ land area and 40 times the population. Much of this space is used to grow tomatoes and cucumbers that are sold in US supermarkets. The Kerr Center website offers free resources, including plans for a low-cost 17′ x 100′ hoop house, for those interested in gaining a foothold in the growing global agricultural sector.

Is greenhouse farming profitable in USA?

The majority of greenhouse fruit and vegetable producers report gross profit margins of 5-20, with the highest-yielding greenhouses generating up to 30-40 gross margins.

How many acres of organic farming are there in the US?

The U. S. has 4. 9 million acres of certified organic land, with 1. 3 million acres being pastureland and 3. 6 million acres being cropland. Organic Valley has over 460, 000 organic acres and has kept 540 million pounds of chemicals off the land since 1988. California is the top state accounting for 39 of total U. S. organic sales and 18 of the total organic farms in 2022. The 2021 Certified Organic Survey shows that 10 states accounted for about 75 of certified organic sales in 2021.

The total number of farms in the U. S. has decreased by 7 since 2017, but over 2, 000 farms with acreage transitioning to organic in 2022, indicating that more farms are starting to follow organic standards. The 2022 census shows that these states are still where most organic product sales are coming from.

What is the largest crop in the US by acreage?

Corn is the most frequently cultivated crop in the United States, according to data from the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

How profitable are greenhouses?

Profit margins in the greenhouse industry are extremely low, with most US operations achieving only a 3. 5 margin at best. Even well-designed greenhouses can start costing more to run than they produce in profit as they age or if they are not well optimized. Commercial greenhouses that lack good design or are built improperly from the beginning will inflate operation costs over the span of many years.

One of the most common causes of profit loss in a commercial greenhouse is overpriced supplies. It is easy to order pots, irrigation nozzles, and other regularly replaced supplies from the first source you find, but prices can fluctuate year to year. Newcomers to commercial greenhouse cultivation often purchase all their initial supplies from the same company providing the greenhouse structures or film. To reduce unnecessary spending and maximize profit on individual plants, it is crucial to commit to price checking routine supply purchases as soon as possible.

How much food does a greenhouse produce?

A greenhouse can be sized as small as a few cold frames or as large as an entire building, and on average, it can produce 2. 5 pounds of fresh produce per square foot annually. This statistic is useful when planning for the amount of produce needed for a household. The size of the greenhouse is related to its capacity to produce food. A smaller greenhouse can still produce enough food, but a larger one ensures more yield, especially in the face of inclimate weather or unforeseen crop soilage.