Agriculture Facts
California's Top Agricultural Commodities
- Almonds
- Grapes
- Berries and Strawberries
- Walnuts
- Lettuce
- Hay Forages
- Tomatoes
- Nursery Crops
- Flowers and Foliage
- Pistachios
- Broccoli
- Rice
- Oranges
- Cotton
- Carrots
- Celery
- Peppers
California Agriculture Facts
- California produces nearly half of U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables.
- California is the only state in the U.S. to export the following commodities: almonds, artichokes, dates, dried plums, figs, garlic, kiwifruit, olives, pistachios, raisins and walnuts.
- California agricultural products are shipped to 200 individual countries worldwide. Canada is the top export market, followed by the European Union, Japan, China and Mexico.
- California is home to the most productive agricultural counties in the nation. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture's ranking of market value of agricultural products sold, nine of the nation's top 10 producing counties are in California.
- California has 81,500 farms and ranches, less than 4% of the nation's total. Yet, the Golden State's agricultural production represents 11.2% of the total U.S. value of agricultural crops and commodities.
- California has more forest land than any state, except Alaska.
- California's floriculture crop is the largest in the U.S. It accounts for one quarter of the total wholesale value of the floriculture crop.
- California-grown annual bedding and garden plants accounts for almost 16 percent of the total wholesale value in the U.S.
- California is the dominant state in cut flower production, accounting for 75 percent of the total cut flower wholesale value among operations surveyed with $100,000 or more in total sales.
- California leads the country in potted flowering plant value.
- California accounts for 46% of the U.S. fruit and nut production and 62% of the national value of fruit and nut crops.
- California leads in fresh market vegetable production, accounting for 44% of the U.S. harvested area and 49% of the national production.
