Nestled in the Mississippi River valley, Northwest Illinois sits at the intersection of America’s agricultural economy.
Ag Leadership
Illinois is an agricultural powerhouse, a “Top Five” State for agricultural production, and Whiteside County has some of the State’s most productive farmland. And agribusiness doesn’t stop there – it encompasses all agricultural inputs and outputs, from seed, fertilizers, and feed, to farm implements, and machinery, and to value added food products. Whiteside County/Northwest Illinois has a competitive edge over many other locations due to our access to raw materials, our central location and superior transportation system.
Food Processing
With 2,640 food manufacturing companies, Illinois ranks first in the nation with $180 billion in processed food sales, and the Whiteside/Northwest Illinois region is well-equipped to turn the state's crops and livestock into food and industrial products. In fact, the region is home to several well-known names in food manufacturing, including Archer Daniels Midland, Del Monte, Nestle, Armour, Tyson, Crest Foods, Mighty Vine and Bright Farms, and has the room to grow profitable agribusinesses.
