VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner Ed Williams presented the 2018 Crop Report to the Board of Supervisors last Tuesday, July 30. The report, which highlights organic farming and provides an overview of agriculture in the county in 2018, indicated a thriving agricultural industry. Overall, the report indicates agriculture in the region saw small growth and achieved an estimated gross value of $2.1 billion across area crops.
“Ventura County growers are innovative, cutting edge leaders in adopting new methods and techniques to produce high quality wholesome food,” said Williams. “We’re very pleased to see positive overall crop growth across the County, especially in light of the County weathering the Thomas Fire at the end of 2017. The strength of the industry is a testament to the resilience of our community.”
The report, which provides a deep dive into the health of the agricultural industry, lists the top ten crops for 2018:
- Strawberries
- Lemons
- Celery
- Nursery Stock
- Raspberries
- Avocados
- Tomatoes
- Cut Flowers
- Peppers
- Cabbage
This list represents just a snapshot of the variety of crops that are cultivated by growers across the county. Organic crops within the County represent 8.4 percent of the total crop production by growers.
“We’re very pleased that the agricultural industry is thriving,” said Mike Powers, County Executive Officer. “This industry is a driving force in our county, not only feeding our community, but also employing individuals and families from across the 10 cities in our county who not only help cultivate the crops, but also work in partnership to export and feed our nation and the world.”
Ventura County growers, in addition to exporting their crops across the United States, also ship their fruits and vegetable to 90 countries worldwide.
Copies of the 2018 Crop Report can be found at the Agricultural Commissioner’s office or online at https://www.ventura.org/agricultural-commissioner/crop-reports/.
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