The Top 6 Crops Grown in California | Mossy Oak Properties California Farm & Ranch

Once called the “Golden State” due to the gold rush, California has maintained its reputation as the land of opportunity due to its prime agricultural potential. California is one of only five Mediterranean growing climates in the world and the producer of more 400 agricultural commodities—making it the most agriculturally diverse state in the United States!

Let’s take a look at six crops that are perfect to grow in California:

  • Almonds. Between almond butter, almond milk and their versatility for regular snacking, almonds have become synonymous with California. Valuing in at over $5.3 billion, the almond industry employs more than 100,000 people statewide and is the largest crop exported from the state.

  • Grapes. We all know about the vineyards that give us California’s wine country, but the state is also a huge producer of table grapes. Table grapes are used for snacking instead of wine, and 99 percent of the varieties found in grocery stores and produce stands across the country come from California.

  • Lettuce. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, California harvested over 232,000 acres of lettuce—which is approximately 90 percent of the leaves sold in the United States.

  • Strawberries. Strawberries are the fourth most valuable crop in the state, and California is the largest supplier of strawberries in the nation. Strawberries grown in California account for 88 percent of the fresh and frozen stock on store shelves.

  • Tomatoes. Did you know there’s a difference between “processing tomatoes” and the tomatoes you’ll find in your produce section? California is the leading producer of the processing variety, used for things such as canning, sauces and pre-made soups.

  • Floriculture. Floriculture—aka flower farming—amounts to $999 million in sales for California’s producers. These flowers go to supermarkets and florists across the nation, and originate right here on California soil.

If you’re interested in having your own plot of California soil, Mossy Oak Properties can find you the perfect parcel!