California Farmers Transform Trade at Oakland Port

OAKLAND, CA — California's farmers have transformed trade at the Port of Oakland, with the amount of farm exports increasing 233 percent over the past five years, port officials said.

Farm exports are now 53 percent of total exports from the port.

Total farm exports were 3.9 million metric tons last year, up from 1.2 million metric tons in 2012, port officials said.

Business development manager Beth Frisher said in a statement that the growing middle class in Asia is eager for high-quality U.S. farm products. Oakland is the last stop on the West Coast for ships returning to Asia.

Oakland is also the closest port for farmers who export to Asia from the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Salinas and Napa valleys.

Frisher said this year could also be a year of growth for farm exports considering all of the rain in the region that may yield a bountiful harvest in the fall.

— Bay City News; Image via Pixabay