The History of Agriculture in the US

This week we’ll celebrate the official 250^th birthday of the US. It’ll be a milestone celebration across the country, from those on Wall Street all the way to those in the fields.

As we honor those who’ve built and sacrificed for this country, we’re reflecting on one of the industries that’s been feeding us for generations: agriculture.

Agriculture in Pre-Colonial Times

It’d be wrong to talk about agriculture in the US without recognizing the people and culture who originally called this land home. Prior to settlers migrating to the Americas, Indigenous peoples practiced sustainable farming methods for quite a few varieties we know today. In Jamestown, these were known as the Three Sisters, or corn, squash, and beans.

Agriculture During Colonial Times

Agriculture in the US spans all the way back to colonial times. This is when people practiced subsistence farming, a method that focuses on small plots of land and farming to feed a family, rather than for trade. There was little machinery involved. Most of the planting, cultivation, and harvesting were done by humans and livestock.

Agriculture at the Turn of the Century

As we left the revolutionary era and started to become a more established country, agriculture practice started to expand as well. Here are some highlights from this time:

• In 1810, the first American agricultural periodical, the Agricultural Museum, began publication. It served as a repository for farmers and manufacturers until its last publication in June 1811, with 24 total editions.
• In 1830, McCormick patented the horse-drawn reaper. This, along with other technological advances like the steam plow, allowed the farming of the Great Plains.
• In the 1840s, farmers began to shift toward widespread commercial farming as the growing use of factory-made agricultural machines created a need for profit and cash.
• During this era, we also see a shift towards cash crops and commercials belts for varieties like corn develop.

A Shift in US Agriculture

Abraham Lincoln is well-known for serving as US President during the civil war. More importantly, he is known for the Emancipation Proclamation. But did you know he had significant impact on agriculture as well? During his presidency:

• Lincoln established the USDA, calling it the ‘People’s Department.’
• The Morrill Land Grant College Act was passed. The goal of this act was to expand agricultural education by granting land and funds to states to establish colleges specializing in agriculture.
• The Homestead Act was also passed. This act gave public land to those willing to farm it.

Agriculture in the 20^th Century

As the Civil War and frontier era of the US passed, the 20^th century saw the agriculture industry strengthen. Many measures passed during this century paved the way for current market trends we see today.

• From 1900 to 1901, the Director of Agriculture at the Tuskegee Institute diversified southern agriculture by finding new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans.
• In 1902, the Reclamation Act funded irrigation projects
• In 1906, the USDA passed the Food and Drug Act, setting some of the first benchmarks for food safety.
• In 1919, John Vena Inc., was established in Philadelphia, PA.
• The Dust Bowl from 1932 to 1936 spurred the government to enact crop controls and soil conversation measures.
• The Farm Bill in 1933 was meant to manage inventory and market price during the Great Depression.
• After WWII, monocropping became more widespread. This farming method focuses on a single crop.
• Between 1947-1954, standards were developed for agricultural trade and exports.
• In 1953, Philadelphia reclaims areas for tourism (such as Independence Hall). The produce industry within Philly migrates to the Food Distribution Center in South Philly.
• The Green Revolution from 1960 to 1980 addressed the growing hunger issue caused by a growing population. This sparked the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which will have a future impact on soil and ecosystems.
• In the late 20^th century, demands for more USDA programs and programs to preserve natural environments begin to drive the market.
• In 1967, companies located within the Food Distribution Center come together to install hydro coolers for produce. These machines helped extend shelf-life of commercial fruit and vegetables.
• In 1990, JVI imports some of the first Israeli cherry on-the-vine tomatoes and Canadian bell peppers.
• In 1993, the market is rebranded to the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market and obtains a booth at PMA – the first time a wholesale market is represented at a show.

The Modern Era of Agriculture

Most of you already know the demand and trends of the industry – many of which we see and deal with in the day-to-day. There has become a demand for more natural, local, and safe for consumption varieties. This is reflected in some current legislatures:

• USDA plans to ban synthetic food dyes, starting with Red Dye No. 3.
• In 2028, a new regulation, which is one of the strictest food traceability regulations to date, will go into effect. This regulation is called FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) 204.

Let’s also not forget the place we call home: The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM). The PWPM opened its doors on June 5, 2011, as the largest fully enclosed, fully refrigerated building in the world. The 700,000 square foot facility (that’s the length on 14 football fields!) is home to some of the world’s freshest produce. Many of the merchants can be tracked back to Dock Street, the OG Philadelphia produce marketplace.