Canned Food Industry in the USA
Production, processing and key industry sectors
The United States has one of the world's largest and most
diversified food processing industries. Canned and
shelf-stable production includes vegetables, fruits, tomatoes,
seafood, meat products, soups, sauces, beans, ready-to-eat foods
and specialty preserved products.
Production is closely linked to the country's major agricultural
regions. California plays a particularly important
role in processed tomatoes, fruit, vegetables and ripe olives,
while the Pacific Northwest is important for fruit
and seafood processing. Midwestern states are major producers and
processors of vegetables such as corn and peas.
The industry includes large multinational food groups as well as
family-owned processors, agricultural cooperatives, private-label
manufacturers and companies specializing in foodservice and
industrial ingredients.
U.S. canned food production is subject to federal food safety and
labeling requirements, with regulatory oversight involving the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and,
for specific product categories including meat and poultry,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).