The Biggest Crop Export in Every U.S. State: A Fun, Complete Guide
Ready to see what your state grows best? This guide breaks down the largest crop export from each state. Whether you’re hunting for trivia gold, curious about what fills the nation’s barns, or just love food facts, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
If you want the whole data spread, the USDA’s State Agricultural Exports page is a great place to geek out over the details.
California: Almonds Rule the Golden State
No contest here—California is the world’s almond capital. These tiny, crunchy nuts lead the state’s exports by miles. California’s Mediterranean climate is just right for almond trees, so much that about 80% of the world’s almonds come from the state. They’re a massive part of the state’s economy and show up everywhere, from your breakfast granola to fancy chocolates.
Iowa: Soybeans Dominate the Fields
Drive through Iowa, and you’ll see endless rows of soybeans. They aren’t just the state’s top crop export—they’re one of America’s biggest exports, period. Much of Iowa’s soybean harvest heads overseas to feed both people and livestock, making it a global agricultural powerhouse.
Illinois: Corn on Top
Illinois is proud of its corn, not only for feeding families but also for fueling cars and animals. Corn is Illinois’ leading crop export, and it’s so big that you’ll find it in everything from cereal and sweeteners to ethanol and animal feed. If you enjoy popcorn during movie night, thank midwestern fields like these.
Texas: Cotton Is King
Texas grows more cotton than any other state. Those wide open spaces and long summers make perfect growing conditions for fluffy cotton bolls. Texas cotton is a staple in the world’s clothing industry and helps drive the state’s rural economy.
Nebraska: Corn Exports Lead the Way
Much like its neighbor Iowa, Nebraska’s black soil and mild climate make it ideal for corn. Most of Nebraska’s corn crop gets shipped out of state, feeding livestock globally and making its way into everyday products.
Florida: Oranges Bring the Sunshine
Everyone knows Florida for oranges, and for good reason. The state’s citrus groves produce oranges that travel around the world as fresh fruit and juice. Florida’s climate keeps the fruit sweet and juicy, making it the country’s top orange exporter.
Washington: Apples Are a Big Deal
Washington apples are the star of the state’s export scene. The cool nights and sunny days help farmers grow crisp, sweet varieties that world markets can’t get enough of. From crunchy Red Delicious to tart Granny Smith, these apples are famous far beyond the Pacific Northwest.
Georgia: Peanuts Go Global
Georgia’s sandy soil is perfect for growing peanuts. No wonder the state is America’s peanut powerhouse and top exporter. Most of those classic peanut butter jars start their journey in Georgia, earning the state a place of honor at lunch tables everywhere.
North Dakota: Wheat Fields Stretch for Miles
North Dakota’s rolling prairies are home to some of the world’s best wheat. The state’s wheat exports support everything from bread-baking in Europe to noodle production in Asia. It’s a major crop that defines the landscape and economy.
Idaho: Potatoes, No Surprise
Potatoes are more than just a dinner side in Idaho—they’re a booming export business. Idaho’s volcanic soil and cool climate help produce potatoes with fluffy interiors and crisp skins. Whether you love fries or mashed potatoes, there’s a good chance Idaho played a role.
Minnesota: Soybeans for the World
Minnesota’s chilly winters and rich soil lead to huge soybean harvests. Like Iowa, Minnesota sends much of its crop around the globe, especially to Asia. These beans show up in sauces, oils, and animal feeds everywhere.
Kansas: Wheat for Bread Lovers
Kansas is known as America’s breadbasket for a reason. Wheat is the state’s biggest export, and every harvest fills cargo ships with golden grains headed worldwide. Wheat helps keep bread on tables from the US to the Middle East.
Arkansas: Rice Feeds the Globe
Arkansas is the nation’s top rice producer. Its fields flood with water each year to grow acres of rice that end up in sushi restaurants and dinner bowls around the world.
Wisconsin: Corn Powers Dairy—and Goes Abroad
While most know Wisconsin for cheese, corn edges out as the top crop export. It feeds cows and ships overseas, supporting both the state’s dairy industry and the global grain market.
North Carolina: Sweet Potatoes Shine
North Carolina leads the nation in sweet potato exports. The state’s sandy soil is ideal for these nutritious root veggies, and they end up in chips, casseroles, and pies everywhere.
South Dakota: Soybeans Take the Prize
South Dakota’s wide fields are blanketed with soybeans that feed people and animals on almost every continent. It’s the backbone of the state’s export economy.
Ohio: Soybeans Are Top Dog
Ohio’s moderate climate turns out soybeans by the ton, most of which get shipped to international markets for manufacturing food, feed, and oils.
Louisiana: Soybeans (Again!)
Warm Louisiana summers create fields of soybeans. Most of the crop is bound for global export, helping to feed populations abroad and supporting the state’s agricultural economy.
Missouri: Soybeans Fill the Barges
With the Mississippi River as a superhighway, Missouri ships much of its soybean crop directly to ports. Those beans end up all over the world, in everything from animal feed to tofu.
Michigan: Soybeans and Cherries
Michigan is famous for its cherries, but soybeans still top export charts. The state’s fertile soil means big harvests every year, destined for foreign markets.
Alabama: Cotton Rides High
Alabama’s hot, humid weather helps cotton thrive. Its soft fibers make their way into everything from T-shirts to sheets, keeping the world comfortable.
Maine: Blueberries Go Global
Wild blueberries thrive in Maine’s cool, moist climate. These tiny berries pack a punch in taste and nutrition and are shipped frozen to markets everywhere. You’ll find Maine blueberries in baking goods, smoothie packs, and lots of freezer aisles.
Indiana: Corn Crosses Borders
Indiana’s fields are mostly corn, and a good portion of what grows goes overseas. The state’s strong farming legacy keeps corn moving from the Midwest to dinner plates and industrial uses worldwide.
Oklahoma: Wheat Feeds the World
Oklahoma’s wheat fields stretch for miles, and most of the state’s harvest finds its way to hungry mouths across the globe.
Kentucky: Soybeans Hold Steady
Kentucky may be known for bourbon, but soybeans lead the state’s crop exports. Its crops support international food production and livestock.
Tennessee: Soybeans for Export
Wide fields and mild weather make Tennessee an excellent spot for soybeans, and the majority get shipped around the world for food, oil, and feed.
Arizona: Lettuce Tops the List
Arizona isn’t just about cacti and desert heat. When it comes to exports, lettuce heads out in impressive quantities every year. Yuma’s rich soil and sunny skies create the perfect salad bowl, and much of the nation’s winter lettuce comes from here. If you’ve nibbled on a salad in January, you might’ve tasted Arizona’s handiwork.
Alaska: Seafood Takes the Cake, But Barley Leads Crops
Alaska’s real export star is seafood, but if we’re talking crops, barley is the lead export. Short growing seasons mean not a huge harvest, but what’s grown is hardy, high-quality, and finds its way to specialty markets. Barley from these northern fields often winds up in animal feed and specialty beers.
Colorado: Wheat is the Mainstay
Colorado’s wide plains are ideal for wheat. It’s not just for local bread, either—a good share of it goes overseas. Thanks to the state’s climate, Colorado wheat is prized for its quality and consistency. Farmers here keep a close eye on international demand.
Connecticut: Nursery Plants and Sod
Connecticut’s climate is perfect for lush, green nursery products. Sod, ornamental trees, and flowers are shipped all over the Northeast. Many landscaping businesses rely on these steady exports, especially in growing suburban areas.
Delaware: Soybeans Lead the Way
Small state, big export numbers. Soybeans are Delaware’s crop king and fill barges heading to ports around the world. The state’s proximity to the coast means getting crops out quickly is easy.
Hawaii: Coffee is Iconic
Hawaii might be best known for its beaches, but Kona coffee is world-famous. Rich volcanic soil gives the beans a unique profile, making them a favorite in cafes across the globe. Coffee lovers, this state’s for you.
Maryland: Soybeans Win Here, Too
Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region offers fertile ground for soybeans. Most of the beans are exported, often heading to international feed markets. It’s a huge part of the state’s farm economy.
Massachusetts: Cranberries Make it Big
Massachusetts is the cranberry capital of the East. Cranberries grown in sandy bogs here are exported far and wide—perfect for sauces, juice blends, and those famous holiday dishes.
Mississippi: Soybeans Rule Again
Much of Mississippi’s farmland is devoted to soybeans, making them the state’s top crop export. The beans leave by barge on the mighty Mississippi River, bound for ports and destinations worldwide.
Montana: Wheat Feeds the World
Montana is all about wide-open spaces—and golden wheat fields. Hard red wheat does especially well, and gigantic harvests find their way to bread makers and food companies across oceans.
Nevada: Hay Heads Out
You might think of Nevada and picture desert, but the state grows a surprising amount of hay. Most of this is alfalfa hay, shipped to neighboring states and sometimes overseas for livestock feed.
New Hampshire: Hay and Nursery Products
While New Hampshire’s total production isn’t huge, hay and nursery crops make up the lion’s share of exports. Christmas tree farms and landscaping suppliers love these reliable exports.
Wyoming: Hay and Barley
With its high altitude and short growing season, Wyoming leads in hay and barley exports. These crops support ranching and dairy across the Mountain West and sometimes reach even farther.
New Jersey: Blueberries and Peaches
The Garden State, true to its name, is big on blueberries—and peaches run a close second. Blueberries grown in New Jersey’s sandy soil hit fresh fruit markets nationwide and abroad.
New Mexico: Pecans for the Win
New Mexico’s nutty side shines through in pecan exports. The hot days and cool nights produce sweet, plump nuts sought after by bakers and snack companies around the world.
Vermont: Maple Syrup Reins Supreme
Vermont’s trees pump out sweet sap, and the result is the country’s most famous maple syrup. Exports are small compared to grains or soybeans, but Vermont dominates the syrup niche by far.
New York: Apples Are #1
New York’s nickname as the Empire State fits its apple orchards. Crisp, well-known varieties like Empire and McIntosh find fans as far away as Europe and Asia.
Oregon: Wheat Crosses Borders
Oregon is a wheat powerhouse, with much of its crop heading straight to Asia via the Columbia River. The fertile Willamette Valley makes it possible to grow high-quality wheat for pasta, noodles, and bread.
Pennsylvania: Dairy’s Big, but Mushrooms Top Crops
When it comes to crops, Pennsylvania is the largest mushroom producer in the U.S. You’ll find their mushrooms showing up in produce sections nationwide and even in international dishes.
Rhode Island: Nursery and Greenhouse Products
Tiny state, green thumb. Rhode Island’s biggest crop export is nursery and greenhouse products—everything from ornamental shrubs to potted flowers.
South Carolina: Cotton Leads
Cotton is the real export star in South Carolina. Fields of white stretch out through the state, and the cotton heads to mills and factories around the world for clothing and textiles.
Utah: Hay for the Win
Utah’s dry climate is perfect for high-value alfalfa hay. Much of it is shipped, sometimes even to Asian markets for use as premium livestock feed.
Virginia: Soybeans Are #1
Soybeans take center stage here, just as in many Mid-Atlantic states. Virginia farmers send their crop out through coastal ports to a hungry global market.
West Virginia: Apples Find Their Way Abroad
West Virginia isn’t a huge player in the export game, but apples are the leading crop. Orchards in the state focus on quality—and local cider fans can confirm they’re delicious.
Bringing It All Together
From Arizona’s fresh lettuce to Vermont’s iconic maple syrup, every state has a unique crop that it sends out into the world. Crops like soybeans, wheat, and corn pop up again and again, but you’ll also find plenty of surprises (who guessed so much hay would ship from the West?). U.S. agriculture is truly diverse, powered by local know-how and a dash of state pride.
Want to see the full breakdown, state by state? Check out this interactive ranking of top ag exports by state or explore infographics and fun ag facts at Stacker’s biggest agricultural exports by state.
Curious about how your state stacks up? Let us know what surprised you—or what crop you think could be next on the export list!
