Where is the Midwest?

The Midwest region of the United States includes 12 centrally-located states – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Because these states are located in the middle of the country, the region is often referred to as the "heartland."

History of the Midwest U.S.

Through the geographic influence of the Great Lakes, upper Mississippi River valley, and the Great Plains, the Midwest has always been very fertile. Native Americans were the first people to use and cultivate the Midwest’s natural resources like bison, blueberries, cranberries and wild rice. Even the word "Chicago" can be traced to a Native American word for "wild onion."

So in the 1800s, many immigrants traveled to the Midwest in covered wagons, settled in newly-built homesteads, and became farmers. Their determination to succeed created a thriving agricultural industry and community. They blended their native skills, craftsmanship, customs, and tastes with their neighbors until a whole new culture was born. From this "continuing "American melting pot" comes the unique flavor of midwestern food.

The Modern Midwest

Today, the midwestern region of the United States is both rural, with miles and miles of fields, and urban, with great cities like Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.

With its combination of country and city, the Midwest is one of the world’s leading food-producing areas. Midwestern farmers cultivate more than one-third of the world’s grain, as well as fruits and vegetables, livestock, and dairy products. Consequently, the Midwest is home to thousands of food and agricultural companies that provide consumers around the globe with high quality products.

We invite you to access our Midwest Product Guide for information on some of the major food and agricultural products found in our region. In this guide, you’ll also find contact information for the major product-specific trade groups here in the Midwest and throughout the United States.