If each consumer in the Omaha Metro Area purchased (or had purchased for them) $5 of food directly from a farm in the region each week, $211 million of new farm income would be generated for Omaha Metro farmers. This would provide vital economic support for agriculture and increase access to fresh food locally.
“Feeding Omaha Metro with Ken Meter” was recorded on Aug. 18, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. This presentation provides a snapshot of the agricultural economy in the Omaha Metro region and provides a starting point for conversations about strengthening local food systems.
Omaha Metro consumers spend $2.6 billion annually, buying food that is produced outside of the region. Ken Meter, author and food systems expert from the Crossroads Resource Center, wrote the 2024 Omaha Metro Farm & Food Economy report in February 2025. His analysis draws from sources including the U.S. Census of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, and the U.S. Bureau for Economic Analysis to provide a snapshot of Omaha Metro’s agricultural economy.
Watch here
Partners for this event included the Center for Rural Affairs, Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, Crossroads Resource Center, No More Empty Pots, Rural Prosperity Nebraska, and USDA Heartland Regional Food Business Center. All are equal opportunity providers.
