California, Home to World’s 4th Largest Economy, Launches a “Made in California” Label
The consumer-focused program is meant to promote the state's significant manufacturing sector.
machineryasia 
The consumer-focused program is meant to promote the state’s significant manufacturing sector.
Some news out of Sacramento last month: “Made in California,” a new statewide labeling and marketing program, was launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom to promote products that are “substantially made” in the Golden State.
Eligible manufacturers that apply to the program will be able to use the “Made in California” label and tap other resources to improve their visibility with different consumer groups. The program is temporarily waiving application fees to encourage participation.
“Whether the company makes surfboards or salsa, beer or biotech products, as long as it is substantially made in the Golden State, manufacturers big and small have the opportunity to add the valuable ‘Made in California’ label to their products,” reads the press release that accompanied the program’s launch. “And for consumers, the label makes it simple: look for the logo and know you’re buying a product made by California workers, right here in California, to California standards.”
As such, this is very consumer-focused program, one in which the state government is committing to promote an important part of its state economy, which by itself is one of the world’s largest. According to the release, California manufacturers produced $385 billion in economic output in 2025, or 9% of the state’s GDP. What’s more, nearly 90% of California’s manufacturers qualify as small businesses. It’s all a long way of saying there’s a lot of manufacturing employment and manufacturing activity taking place on the west coast, and Gov. Newsom – perhaps with his eye on higher office someday – recognizes the political expediency in promoting his stater’s manufacturing sector.
Nothing wrong with that. This program is a step in the right direction: Seeing a “Made in California” label on more consumer goods puts manufacturing activity at top of mind for shoppers and will remind them that localized manufacturing improves local economies by providing local jobs and generating significant economic activity nearby. At a time when companies are intentionally making it more difficult to find American-made goods (let alone California-made goods), this kind of promotion should be applauded.
You can find more information on the Made in California program here, and a database of participating manufacturers here.
