10 States That Produce the Most of Your Favorite Foods

America is an agricultural powerhouse. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. is the world’s second-largest agricultural trader, after the European Union, and its output has only continued to grow over the past several decades. But when it comes to agriculture, not all states are created equal. Thanks to climate, soil, and many other factors, some states are better-suited to certain crops than others, and oftentimes they’re ones you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Here are 10 popular foods and the states that grow the most of them.

North Dakota – Honey

The next time you crack open a jar of honey, you’ll likely have North Dakota’s bees to thank. In 2023, North Dakota produced a total of 38.3 million pounds of honey, nearly triple the amount of the next largest honey-producing state. In fact, North Dakota has been the country’s top supplier of honey since 2003, according to the USDA. 

There are about 250 registered beekeepers in the Peace Garden State; however, because of North Dakota’s cold climate, some apiarists have to move their colonies south for the frigid winters. Overall, the U.S. is the fifth-biggest honey-producing country in the world, with China taking the top spot. After North Dakota, most of America’s honey comes from California, Texas, and Montana.

California – Milk

Wisconsin might be known as “America’s Dairyland,” but it is no longer the state that produces the most milk. That honor goes to California, which surpassed Wisconsin in 1993. The Golden State was responsible for 40,283 million pounds of milk in 2024, but Wisconsin came in second with 32,351 million pounds. According to the USDA, five states — California, Wisconsin, Idaho, Texas, and New York — were collectively responsible for more than half of the country’s annual milk supply. Overall, the U.S. dairy industry is big business; in 2024, it produced over $45 billion in income.

Illinois – Pumpkins

Illinois grew 690 million pounds of pumpkins in 2023, more than the next five states (California, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) combined. But those Illinois pumpkins weren’t all destined to become jack-o-lanterns. Unlike other states, the top pumpkin-producing state grows the fruit primarily for processing, meaning it’s canned, added to other foods, or turned into pie filling. The pumpkins grown for canning are decidedly less pretty but generally a lot more tasty than ornamental pumpkins. 

There are two pumpkin processing facilities in Illinois, and the demand for pumpkin-flavored foods grows every year. It’s estimated that 90% to 95% of canning pumpkins in the U.S. are grown in Illinois, which is why in 2015, the state chose pumpkin as its official state pie.

Maine – Wild Blueberries

The wild blueberry is native to Maine, which doesn’t just produce more of them than any other state — rather, a full 100% of the wild blueberries in the country were grown there in 2024, according to the USDA. The Pine Tree State was responsible for more than 90 million pounds of wild blueberries worth an estimated $49 million, and over 44,000 acres of land in Maine is dedicated to growing the crop. 

Wild blueberries are different from their cultivated cousins. Also called low-bush blueberries, this small fruit is generally juicier and tangier than cultivated (or high-bush) blueberries and contains a higher concentration of antioxidants. Wild blueberries are recognized as Maine’s official state fruit, and a visit to the state during harvest season (which runs from July through September) will give you the chance to taste everything from blueberry pies to blueberry ice cream.

Minnesota – Turkeys

If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, chances are the centerpiece of your dinner came from Minnesota. The Land of 10,000 Lakes produced 32 million turkeys in 2024, more than any other state in the country. As a whole, the U.S. produces roughly 200 million birds and 5 billion pounds of turkey meat annually. Ranking after Minnesota for turkey production are North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Virginia, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.

California – Artichokes

More than 99% of commercially grown artichokes in the United States come from California (which has unsurprisingly declared the artichoke its official state vegetable), and one town in particular has proclaimed itself the “Artichoke Capital of the World.” Castroville, located about 19 miles northeast of Monterey, is home to one of the state’s largest artichoke producers, Ocean Mist Farms, which holds over two-thirds of the state’s artichoke market share. The vegetable is so popular here that the town is home to a 20-foot-tall artichoke statue (the largest in the world) and an annual artichoke festival that has been held in the city for more than half a century.

Pennsylvania – Mushrooms

Nearly 70% of the mushrooms sold in the U.S. are grown in just a single county in Pennsylvania. Quakers began farming mushrooms in Chester County, just west of Philadelphia in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the early 1800s. Today, there are about 50 mushroom farms in the county, which were responsible for over 465 million pounds of mushrooms in 2023, the majority of which are button and portobello). The Quaker State was responsible for 69% of mushroom sales in the U.S. that year. 

Making mushrooms is smelly business: It requires a lot of compost, made from food waste as well as horse or chicken manure. The mushrooms grow best in dark, damp spaces, so they are grown indoors with strict climate control. Then, mushrooms are usually hand-picked, since mechanical harvesting creates more waste, and they are on grocery store shelves within 48 hours.

Oregon – Hazelnuts

Love the versatile hazelnut? (If you can’t get enough Nutella, you certainly do.) One state is responsible for 99% of their production in the U.S.: Oregon. The Beaver State has over 80,000 acres dedicated to growing the nut, mostly in the Willamette Valley, while the rest of America’s supply is grown in neighboring Washington. While that produces a whole lot of hazelnuts, Oregon pales in comparison to the world’s top hazelnut producer — approximately 70% of the world’s supply comes from Turkey. The U.S. is responsible for around 3% to 5% of world hazelnut production.

North Dakota – Sunflower Seeds

Kansas cherishes its native sunflowers. The wild sunflower was declared the state flower of Kansas in 1903, a sunflower appears on the state quarter, and the state is nicknamed the Sunflower State. However, it doesn’t grow the most sunflowers — that honor goes to North Dakota, which grew 518 million pounds of sunflowers in 2024. Those sunflowers were used for foods such as sunflower seeds and sunflower oils. South Dakota ranks No. 2 in the nation for sunflowers, while Kansas lands at No. 8.

Georgia – Peanuts

More than half of America’s peanut production comes from Georgia. In 2022, the Peach State grew more peanuts than all other states combined — a whopping 2.9 billion pounds. Southern states led the list overall, thanks to the warm climate and longer growing season for the crop. Following Georgia were Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and South Carolina, in that order. The country grew more than 5.5 billion pounds of peanuts in 2022, and peanuts are (by far) the most consumed tree nut globally.