Economy of Idaho

Idaho is a top national producer of potatoes, trout, Austrian winter peas, and lentils.

The same vast tracts of unspoiled wilderness that attracted Ernest Hemingway to the region in the early 1960s continue to provide outdoor enthusiasts with excellent camping, hunting, fishing, as well as whitewater kayaking and rafting, and skiing.

Outdoor recreation is a common example ranging from numerous snowmobile and downhill and cross-country ski areas in winter to the evolution of Lewiston as a retirement community based on mild winters, dry, year-round climate and one of the lowest median wind velocities anywhere, combined with the rivers for a wide variety of activities.

The Lewis-Clark valley has an additional independent ammunition components manufacturer and the Chipmunk rifle factory until it was purchased in 2007 by Keystone Sporting Arms and production was moved to Milton, Pennsylvania.

Four of the world's six welded aluminum jet boat (for running river rapids) manufacturers are in the Lewiston-Clarkston, WA valley.

[citation needed] Between 1991 and 2002, Idaho expanded its commercial base to include the science and technology sector which accounted for over 25% of its Gross state product in 2001.

[citation needed] The state sales tax was introduced at 3% in 1965, easily approved by voters,[7] where it remained until 1983.