Production vs. Produce — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Production is the process of creating, manufacturing, or staging, while produce refers to agricultural products that are grown.
Difference Between Production and Produce
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Production encompasses the process of creating goods or services, involving stages from design to manufacturing. It's a term that applies broadly across industries, from the production of cars to the production of a play. Produce, on the other hand, is typically used to describe fresh agricultural goods, such as fruits, vegetables, and sometimes extended to meat and dairy, essentially what one might find in a grocery store's produce section.
While production refers to the act or process of producing, produce can also serve as a verb meaning to create or bring forth. Productions are results of labor and organization, often involving complex processes and multiple stakeholders. In contrast, when used as a verb, 'produce' focuses on the act of bringing something into existence, and as a noun, it's usually the output of agricultural work, the fresh, edible products.
In a broader sense, production is a concept that can be quantified and measured, as in a factory's output or a country's gross domestic product. It relates to economic sectors outside of agriculture and can pertain to services as well. Produce, specifically as a noun, is less about the process and more about the result, specifically results of the earth's bounty.
The terminology is also a matter of industry-specific language. For instance, a producer in the film industry is someone who oversees the production process of a movie, but has no relation to agriculture. Similarly, a farm that focuses on produce is concerned with the yield of crops it can generate and provide to consumers or markets.
Comparison Chart
Definition
The act or process of creating something.
Agricultural goods that have been grown.
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Usage as a Verb/Noun
Used as a noun; rarely as a verb.
Used as both a noun and a verb.
Industry Association
Broadly associated across various industries.
Specifically associated with agriculture.
Context
Industrial, economic, entertainment.
Agricultural, grocery, food.
Measurement
Quantified by output and efficiency.
Quantified by yield and quality.
Compare with Definitions
Production
The process of making or growing something for sale or use.
The company streamlined its production to increase efficiency.
Produce
To cause to have existence or to happen.
The discussion produced a clear outcome.
Production
The act of presenting for display; presentation; exhibition.
The production of evidence in the trial was conclusive.
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for many farm-produced crops, including fruits and vegetables (grains, oats, etc. are also sometimes considered produce).
Production
The act or process of producing
Timber used for the production of lumber and paper.
Produce
Make or manufacture from components or raw materials
The company have just produced a luxury version of the aircraft
Production
The fact or process of being produced
A movie going into production.
Produce
Cause (a particular result or situation) to happen or exist
No conventional drugs had produced any significant change
Production
The creation of value or wealth by producing goods and services.
Produce
Show or provide (something) for consideration, inspection, or use
He produced a sheet of paper from his pocket
Production
The total output, as of a commodity
Increased production at the plant.
Produce
Administer the financial and managerial aspects of (a film or broadcast) or the staging of (a play, opera, etc.)
The video was produced and directed by film-maker Neil Campbell
Production
Something produced; a product
"Of all the productions of land, milk is perhaps the most perishable" (Adam Smith).
Produce
Extend or continue (a line)
One side of the triangle was produced
Production
A work of art or literature.
Produce
Agricultural and other natural products collectively
Dairy produce
Production
A work produced for the stage, screen, television, or radio.
Produce
To bring forth; yield
A plant that produces pink flowers.
Production
A staging or presentation of a theatrical work
A new Broadway production of a musical.
Produce
To create by physical or mental effort
Produce a tapestry.
Produce a poem.
Production
A situation or display that is exaggerated or unduly complicated
Made a production out of the birthday party.
Produce
To manufacture
Factories that produce cars and trucks.
Production
The act of producing, making or creating something.
The widget making machine is being used for production now.
Produce
To cause to occur or exist; give rise to
Chemicals that produce a noxious vapor when mixed.
Production
The act of bringing something forward, out, etc., for use or consideration.
Produce
To bring forth; exhibit
Reached into a pocket and produced a pack of matches.
Failed to produce an eyewitness to the crime.
Production
The act of being produced.
The widgets are coming out of production now.
Produce
To act or operate as producer for
Produce a stage play.
Produce a video.
Production
The total amount produced.
They hope to increase spaghetti production next year.
Produce
(Mathematics) To extend (an area or volume) or lengthen (a line).
Production
The presentation of a theatrical work.
We went to a production of Hamlet.
Produce
To make or yield products or a product
An apple tree that produces well.
Production
An occasion or activity made more complicated than necessary.
He made a simple meal into a huge production.
Produce
To manufacture or create economic goods and services.
Production
That which is manufactured or is ready for manufacturing in volume (as opposed to a prototype or conceptual model).
This is the final production model.
Produce
Farm products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, considered as a group.
Production
The act of lengthening out or prolonging.
Produce
(transitive) To yield, make or manufacture; to generate.
Production
(zoology) An extension or protrusion.
Produce
(transitive) To make (a thing) available to a person, an authority, etc.; to provide for inspection.
Production
(computing) A rewrite rule specifying a symbol substitution that can be recursively performed to generate new symbol sequences. (More information on Wikipedia.)
Each production is implemented with a function.
Produce
To sponsor and present (a motion picture, etc) to an audience or to the public.
Production
The environment where finished code runs, as opposed to staging or development.
Produce
(mathematics) To extend an area, or lengthen a line.
To produce a side of a triangle
Production
Written documents produced in support of the action or defence.
Produce
(obsolete) To draw out; to extend; to lengthen or prolong.
Production
(linguistics) Writing viewed as the process of producing a text in any medium (written, spoken, signed, multimodal, nonverbal), consisting of several steps such as conceptualization, formulation, expression and revision.
Produce
(music) To alter using technology, as opposed to simply performing.
Highly produced sound
Production
The act or process or producing, bringing forth, or exhibiting to view; as, the production of commodities, of a witness.
Produce
That which is produced.
Production
That which is produced, yielded, or made, whether naturally, or by the application of intelligence and labor; as, the productions of the earth; the productions of handicraft; the productions of intellect or genius.
Produce
Harvested agricultural goods collectively, especially vegetables and fruit, but possibly including eggs, dairy products and meat; the saleable food products of farms.
Production
The act of lengthening out or prolonging.
Produce
Offspring.
Production
(economics) manufacturing or mining or growing something (usually in large quantities) for sale;
He introduced more efficient methods of production
Produce
(Australia) Livestock and pet food supplies.
Production
A presentation for the stage or screen or radio or television;
Have you seen the new production of Hamlet?
Produce
To bring forward; to lead forth; to offer to view or notice; to exhibit; to show; as, to produce a witness or evidence in court.
Produce your cause, saith the Lord.
Your parents did not produce you much into the world.
Production
The act or process of producing something;
Shakespeare's production of poetry was enormous
The production of white blood cells
Produce
To bring forth, as young, or as a natural product or growth; to give birth to; to bear; to generate; to propagate; to yield; to furnish; as, the earth produces grass; trees produce fruit; the clouds produce rain.
This soil produces all sorts of palm trees.
[They] produce prodigious births of body or mind.
The greatest jurist his country had produced.
Production
An artifact that has been created by someone or some process;
They improve their product every year
They export most of their agricultural production
Produce
To cause to be or to happen; to originate, as an effect or result; to bring about; as, disease produces pain; vice produces misery.
Production
(law) the act of exhibiting in a court of law;
The appellate court demanded the production of all documents
Produce
To give being or form to; to manufacture; to make; as, a manufacturer produces excellent wares.
Production
The quantity of something (as a commodity) that is created (usually within a given period of time);
Production was up in the second quarter
Produce
To yield or furnish; to gain; as, money at interest produces an income; capital produces profit.
Production
A display that is exaggerated or unduly complicated;
She tends to make a big production out of nothing
Produce
To draw out; to extend; to lengthen; to prolong; as, to produce a man's life to threescore.
Production
The creation of value or wealth by producing goods and services
Produce
To extend; - applied to a line, surface, or solid; as, to produce a side of a triangle.
Production
The manufacturing process of goods in an industry.
Car production has doubled this year due to high demand.
Produce
To yield or furnish appropriate offspring, crops, effects, consequences, or results.
Production
The creation and staging of a performance or event.
The theater's production of 'Hamlet' received rave reviews.
Produce
That which is produced, brought forth, or yielded; product; yield; proceeds; result of labor, especially of agricultural labors
Production
The quantity of something that is produced.
This year's wheat production hit an all-time high.
Produce
Fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market
Produce
Bring forth or yield;
The tree would not produce fruit
Produce
Create or manufacture a man-made product;
We produce more cars than we can sell
The company has been making toys for two centuries
Produce
Cause to occur or exist;
This procedure produces a curious effect
The new law gave rise to many complaints
These chemicals produce a noxious vapor
Produce
Bring out for display;
The proud father produced many pictures of his baby
The accused brought forth a letter in court that he claims exonerates him
Produce
Bring onto the market or release;
Produce a movie
Bring out a book
Produce a new play
Produce
Cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques;
The Bordeaux region produces great red wines
They produce good ham in Parma
We grow wheat here
We raise hogs here
Produce
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes);
He grew a beard
The patient developed abdominal pains
I got funny spots all over my body
Well-developed breasts
Produce
Fresh vegetables and fruits.
She filled her basket with organic produce from the farmer's market.
Produce
To make or manufacture from components or raw materials.
The factory produces over a thousand units daily.
Produce
To create or form something.
The artist produces a new sculpture every month.
Produce
To bring out; to show or exhibit.
He produced a ticket for the concert from his pocket.
Common Curiosities
What does production refer to in economics?
In economics, production refers to the process of combining various material inputs and immaterial inputs in order to make something for consumption.
What is often included in a store's produce section?
A store's produce section typically includes fruits, vegetables, sometimes nuts, and fresh herbs.
Can produce refer to non-agricultural products?
As a noun, produce typically refers to agricultural products, but as a verb, it can refer to the creation of non-agricultural goods.
What is a production line?
A production line is an arrangement of workers and machines in a factory, where the product passes sequentially from operation to operation until completed.
How do you measure a country's production?
A country's production is often measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), which includes the total value of all goods and services produced.
Is the word production used in the film industry?
Yes, production in the film industry refers to the phase of filmmaking from preparing to shoot the scenes to the final movie being ready for distribution.
Can the word production refer to services?
Yes, production can also refer to the provision of services in industries like banking, healthcare, or entertainment.
Are all goods that are produced considered produce?
No, only agricultural products are typically referred to as produce.
Is produce always organic?
Produce is not always organic; it can be conventionally grown using various agricultural methods, including the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
What does it mean to produce a play?
To produce a play means to oversee and manage all aspects of its creation, from casting to set design to final performances.
Is farming considered production?
Yes, farming is considered a type of production, specifically in the context of agriculture.
What is a production manager?
A production manager is responsible for the planning, coordination, and control of manufacturing processes.
What does 'in production' mean for a new product?
'In production' means that a new product is currently being manufactured or developed.
Can produce be frozen or processed?
Yes, produce can be frozen, canned, dried, or processed in other ways to extend its shelf life or alter its form.
How do weather conditions affect produce?
Weather conditions can greatly affect the growth and quality of produce, impacting yield and supply.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
