Idaho’s nickname is “The Gem State” for its beautiful natural resources and scenic areas which include mountain ranges, lakes, forests and rapids.
However, conversations about Idaho tend to lean towards potatoes. It seems there is a consensus that Idaho is most known for the brown vegetable.
CBS2 reports it is true, Idaho leads the nation in potato production. We produce nearly 1/3 of all U.S. potatoes annually on more than 300,000 acres according to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
Most people wouldn’t be surprised by this statistic. Some probably thought we produced more than that.
Idaho is actually a big producer of several agricultural products. Idaho is a top barley-producing state; ranks first in the U.S. for production of certified organic hay; ranks second nationally in the production of sugarbeets; grows 70 percent of the hybrid temperate sweet corn seed in the world; one of few places in the world that successfully produces all five classes of wheat.
The biggest shock came when looking over Idaho’s top ten exports. Agriculture didn’t make the top ten.
Here are Idaho’s top ten Exports according to the Census and Worlds Top Exports (these rankings represent the highest dollar Idaho’s global shipments in 2018).
Integrated circuits (memories): US$570 million (14.2% of Idaho’s total exports)
Computer parts and accessories: $297 million (7.4%)
Solar power semi-conductors, photovoltaic cells: $256 million (6.4%)
Photo plates, films: $172 million (4.3%)
Parts for electrical quantity measurement instruments: $131 million (3.3%)
Solid-state semiconductor storage devices: $110 million (2.7%)
Semiconductor checking instruments: $83 million (2.1%)
Ammonium dihydrogenorthophospha: $77 million (1.9%)
Diesel electric locomotives: $75 million (1.9%)
Integrated circuits (processors/controllers): $74 million (1.8%)
Idaho is obviously a big producer in agriculture and manufacturing, but health care is also on the rise. Idaho’s health care industry has seen an increase in revenue by 46 percent over the past 10 years, with more projected.
Idaho is ranked second in the nation for job growth in healthcare.
