National security evokes discussions and legislation aimed at America’s physical borders, financial or energy infrastructure but a critical – and often overlooked – piece of any country’s national security is the safety and availability of its food supply. To the extent our nation’s food supply is in jeopardy, whether raw agricultural ingredients or processed foods, the country can find itself in deep peril. The importance of cold storage real estate for U.S. food security cannot be overstated. The decisions food supply chain managers make today can affect the food supply of Americans for generations to come.
By the 1970s, the U.S. became the world’s largest food exporter. This was a significant and consequential shift, as prior to that time the country had been a net importer of food. Previously a liability that exposed the country to food supply risk, food production has become a significant portion of America’s gross domestic product (GDP), representing over 5%, with exports totaling $196 billion in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).