The SouthGrow region is well positioned to grow in the future, given its focus on key priorities and collaborations with the communities and agencies in the region.  The region has a breadth and depth of strengths drawn from its landscapes, people, businesses, communities and infrastructure.

SouthGrow’s many strengths and assets include:

• A well-established agriculture economy.
• Over 1 million acres under irrigation.
• Both Federal and Provincial Agriculture Research facilities that support this strong industry cluster.
• Nearly 233,000 sq. ft. of area under greenhouse production (Census of Agriculture, 2001).
• Large greenhouse and field vegetable production providing a base for processing operations.  The region produces 61% of Alberta’s vegetable crop (Census of Agriculture, 2001).
• Strategic location on the North South International Trade Corridor (CANAMEX Highway).
• Location close to the United States border.
• Alberta’s only 24 hour Port of Entry in Alberta is the Coutts/Sweetgrass Border Crossing.
• Production in the region of about 25% of Alberta’s food and manufacturing products.
• Nearly 14 percent of the cattle production, over 15 percent of the provincial pig population, and over 16 percent of the hen and chicken population in the province. (Census of Agriculture, 2001).
• One of the top ten cost-competitive cities (City of Lethbridge) in the world located within the region.  
• Strong food processing activities in meat, potatoes, canola, seed cleaning and small scale value added developments.
• Strong tourism sector attracting 550,000 visitors annually.
• Increasing population consisting of a young and ready supply of trained labour force.