One focus of the state is to promote technology based industries which produced high-value products.

Agricultural exports consist of low-volume high-value products like vanilla, lychees and essential oils.

In addition, they provide an opportunity to "insource" jobs for American workers by selling high-quality and high-value American products around the world.

It has a near-total ban on imports of high-value agricultural products, such as beef, frozen potatoes and alfalfa.

"The managers who were responsible for developing high-value products are the ones moving up to leadership positions," Mr. Thornhill said.

One of the best-performing economies in the world is Germany, where they still manufacture and have a huge export market for high-value products.

Algae - both unicellular and "seaweeds" can be used to extract a range of high-value products, including pharmaceutical chemicals.

Glass jars have remained popular for some high-value products and in home canning.

Advanced manufacturing businesses use expert knowledge in skills and design to produce technologically complex, high-value products and services.

"It's a high-value product because supplies are so tight."