So far this year, exports of Colorado agricultural goods are up by more than 30% compared to the same period last year. That’s according to new statistics by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
These numbers are viewed as important by state leaders because many economists believe that increasing exports will help Colorado recover from the recession quicker. The state’s dairy and meat industries have seen the biggest increases in export market share over the past year.
That has especially been true in recent months, says Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture, John Salazar.
"A large part of that is because of the Japanese tsunami," Salazar said. " Japan has actually imported more Colorado beef and US beef, and there’s been an increase in hide exports as well."
While most export sectors continued to rise dramatically in the first quarter of the year, wheat and corn exports from Colorado actually declined compared with this time last year.
