The Best State to Grow Food in & Why

Statistics

Statistics prove how productive and vital California agriculture is to the rest of the nation and world. The state produces more food that any state and represents an agriculture industry worth $25 billion. The value of its market beats out those in Canada, Mexico, Germany and Spain. Total agricultural exports in 2008 were worth $13.6 billion. Agriculture employs 7.3 percent of the private sector labor force. Out of all farm workers in the U.S., 27 percent of them are employed in California. Half of the nation's total produced fruits, nuts and vegetables grow in California.

Climate plays a huge role in California's food-growing success. It is the only U.S. region with a subtropical Mediterranean climate, which grants it cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Thanks to these mild winters, it enjoys a long growing season and perennial plants can survive without risk of frost. Farmers grow crops throughout many of its valley regions, which exhibit rich soils deposited from mountain snow and rain washes. A diverse range of topographical, geological, and climatic regions creates more than 700 soil types and plenty of crop diversity.

Its notably fertile and variegated soil and climate conditions encourage variety in California crops. More than 400 commodities are produced in the state. Twelve U.S. food products are entirely California grown, including raisins, olives, tree nuts, almonds, figs, kiwi, dates, artichokes, garlic, pistachios, walnuts and dried plums. Other products grown include corn, blueberries, apples and nectarines, as well as specialty and niche items.

California supports a wide range of crops that flourish in its soil and climate. Certain crops are best grown in particular regions of the state. As an example, California grows 92 percent of wine grapes produced in the nation, largely in fertile valley regions with coastal conditions, especially Napa and Sonoma counties. Twenty-three percent of the U.S. citrus crop is grown in California, generally focused along coastal and inland areas, desert valleys of the southern region and the San Joaquin Valley. Olives, artichokes and strawberries grow successfully in specific regions of the state.