How Marin Agriculture Benefits Our Quality of Life and Local Economy

The benefits that Marin's farms and ranches provide to the community are many and substantial, including:

Our quality of life and health begins where we live, learn, work and play.
People travel to Marin to play in the parks, enjoy local food and visit farms.
Residents say that the open space and farms are an important part of why they want to live in Marin.
An overwhelming majority of residents believe it is essential to preserve our farmland here.
Consumers want to know where and how their food is grown. They want to know more about the people who grow it for them.
With nearly 300 farms, agriculture is a growing $80 million industry in Marin. For every one job on the farm, four are created in the community.
Our farms and ranches form the cultural foundation for the look and sense of place of many small towns in West Marin, including Pt. Reyes Station, Olema, and Tomales.
The largest sector of Marin agriculture is the dairy industry. Almost 75% of Marin’s dairies are organic. Our milk products are famous for their quality and include milk, artisan cheeses, ice cream, and yogurt. Marin dairies supply almost 25% of the Bay Area’s milk needs.
Spending money at our local farmers markets, and retail stores that carry GrownLocal products, keeps money in the local community, preserving and creating local jobs.
Farms and farmers are key pieces of a social, economic and environmental mosaic that binds people and communities together.