7 Crops Grown in California

The most agriculturally diverse state in the U.S., California produces more than 400 commodities, and in 2015, agriculture contributed about $47 billion to the state’s economy. Check out crops grown in California that play a large role in that contribution:

Almonds

California almonds were worth a whopping $5.3 billion in 2015. The nuts are grown in California’s Central Valley, and take the No. 2 spot in the state’s list of top crops. The industry provides lots of jobs for Californians – about 104,000 statewide. And the crop was the No. 1 export for California in 2015, with a value of $5.14 billion.

Grapes

Different from wine grapes, table grapes are the kind you eat on their own or mixed in a fruit salad. In 2015, California growers set a record, harvesting their third largest crop ever, valued at $1.83 billion. The state has about 475 table grape farms and they produce 99 percent of the table grapes in the U.S.

Lettuce

California dominates lettuce production in the United States, accounting for 71 percent of the country’s supply. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, California’s 1,486 lettuce farms harvested 232,842 acres for fresh market in 2012.

Strawberries

California strawberries provided $1.86 billion to the state’s economy in 2015, and the state is the nation’s leading strawberry producer, accounting for 88 percent of the nation’s fresh and frozen supply. The crop is the fifth most valuable crop grown in California, planted on nearly 40,000 acres.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes brought $1.71 billion to California in 2015. The state produces more than 90 percent of the nation’s processing tomatoes, which are used for canning, sauces and more.

Walnuts

California has more than 4,000 walnut growers spread across the Central Valley. The industry generates $1.4 billion annually and provides 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. The state grows more than 99 percent of walnuts used in the U.S. Walnuts are also the third-largest export for California, with a value of $1.49 billion in 2015.

Hay

Hay contributed $945 million to California’s economy in 2015. It ranks as No. 10 in the state’s list of top 10 agricultural commodities, and the state is a national leader in hay production.