History

• Food manufacturing plants have been located in Texas since before the Civil War. Before the Civil War, food production in Texas was limited to local markets. During the post-Civil War era, food production exploded. The railways running through the state allowed food manufacturing companies to quickly transport goods to both regional and distant locations, which helped the industry grow within the state. In the middle of the 20th century, meat packing plants, breweries, bakeries and general food processing plants began popping up all over the state; the industry was booming. In the 1950s, food manufacturing plants employed nearly 60,000 Texans and generated an annual revenue of almost $500 million. Within the next 40 years, food manufacturing plants housed in Texas grew to generate an annual revenue in the multi-billions. As of 2010, the food manufacturing industry in Texas employed over 88,000 workers and produced $38.8 billion in goods.
  
  

State Licensing

• The Texas Department of State Health Services is the state agency that regulates licensing of food manufacturing plants. Not all manufacturing plants must possess a license to legally operate in Texas, but those are only the plants that do not fit into any of the categories regulated by the DSHS. Food manufacturing plants must obtain a license from the DSHS if they meet any of the following criteria: process, package or repackage food products, including dietary supplements, ice and water, for wholesale distribution to the retail market; sell water or ice dispensed by a vending machine; all "private labeling" companies that put their company name and address on the labels of food products produced by a third-party manufacturer; package and display food for self-service.
  
  

Manufactured Products and Types of Plants

• Texas has a large cattle ranching market, so beef is plentiful. However, food manufacturing plants in Texas are not limited to beef and beef products; they produce a wide variety of food items. Bakeries, produce packers (fruits, vegetables and nuts), seafood processors, soft drink plants, fruit and vegetable juice plants, wineries and bottling/canning plants that produce anything from salsa to condensed soups are located all over the state.
  
  

Notable Names

• Food manufacturing plants in Texas come in many varieties, from local start-up companies to worldwide powerhouses. The nationwide and worldwide established companies employee a larger number of people, produce a larger quantity of product and generate a larger amount of revenue than the small town competitors. The largest companies with successful manufacturing plants in Texas are Cargill Meat Solutions in Plainview, Coca-Cola in Dallas, Frito Lay Inc. in Plano, JBS Swift & Co. in Cactus, Pilgrim's Pride in Mount Pleasant and Tyson Fresh Meats in Amarillo.