Crop Values Hit Record Levels In One California County

The unprecedented drought aside, crop values for growers in Santa Cruz County hit record levels last year, surpassing $616 million.

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According to an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Santa Cruz County’s 2014 annual crop report shows a $17 million increase from 2013, which is a 3% gain. On the whole, the total acreage decreased slightly, from 18,244 in 2013 to 18,019 last year.

“It shows stability in the agricultural industry,” Mary Lou Nicoletti, county agricultural commissioner, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “It’s not a huge increase, but that’s not particularly surprising. Variable farmland is a finite resource.”

The nursery industry was reported to have had the most growth last year, an increase of 10% $119.7 million. Most of the growth came from Pajaro Valley’s berry industry.

According to the article, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries brought in a total of $396 million, making up 64% of the county’s agricultural gross value. The total acreage decreased slightly, but strawberries earned a higher price of $2,280 per ton.

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The value of vegetable crops declined slightly in 2014, about 3% to $72 million. The article states the highest growth was in leaf lettuce with additional acres and increased yields.

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Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel

 

 

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