The Swine and Dine of California: How Many Farms Can Fit This Much Bacon?
Ah, California. Land of sunshine, beaches, and...bacon? Maybe not the first thing that comes to mind, but the Golden State does contribute to our national porky obsession. But how much pork are we talking about? Well, that all starts with pig farms, and that my friends, is where things get interesting.
The Great Pig Count: California Edition
Unfortunately, there's no central swine counter cruising the California countryside (although, that would be a hilarious job). Finding a definitive number on pig farms is trickier than wrangling a greased pig at a county fair.
The last official census in 2017 puts California at a modest 27th place in national pork production. That translates to roughly 177,000 porkers, which sounds like a lot of snouts to boop, but compared to Iowa (the undisputed swine sovereign), it's a drop in the proverbial piggy bank.
So, How Many Pig Farms Are We Looking At?
Here's the thing: with smaller production, California likely has fewer, but potentially larger-scale pig farms. These might be more industrial setups compared to the idyllic picture of a farmer with a pitchfork and a pot-bellied pig (although those farms probably exist too).
Think of it this way: California is all about efficiency, and raising pigs is no different. Large-scale operations can crank out more pork with less land, which makes sense in a state obsessed with avocados (those gotta grow somewhere, right?).
The California Pork Paradox: Consuming Kings and Modest Producers
California might not be a top pork producer, but they sure do love to eat it! The state consumes a whopping 13% of the nation's pork, which means they're importing a lot of that delicious, crispy bacon from their Midwestern brethren.
Is California a bacon black hole, or a misunderstood swine supporter? The answer, like most things in life, is probably a little bit of both.
In conclusion: While the exact number of pig farms in California remains a mystery (much like the recipe for the perfect pulled pork sandwich), we can assume it's a smaller but significant number. They may not be the national champions, but these Californian pigs are definitely contributing to our national love of all things porky.
