3-01-2022 4:01pm

California is the only state in the U.S. with a USDA National Organic Program

Lorraine Mabbett Editor

Organic production encompasses over 2.5 million acres in the state and California is the only state in the U.S. with a USDA National Organic Program.

California is the most agriculturally productive state in the U.S.
California accounts for 40 percent of all organic production in the U.S.
The top five counties in terms of overall gross sales for 2019 were

Primary County	Producer Gross Sales ($)	Percent Change	Number of Producers	Percent Change
	2018	2019	2018 to 2019	2018	2019	2018 to 2019
Kern	782,175,286	796,784,180	1.90%	88	94	6.80%
Monterey	479,920,335	698,357,095	45.50%	255	284	11.40%
Merced	151,301,108	319,967,083	111.50%	95	96	1.10%
Santa Cruz	69,146,672	142,911,927	106.70%	185	195	5.40%
Los Angeles	16,190,590	16,340,354	0.90%	68	85	25.00%
Statewide totals for 54 counties	3,638,925,028	4,089,542,095	12.4%	5079	5452	7.3%

The 25% increase in organic producers in Los Angeles County is notable. The definition of producer " is the entity that engages in the business of growing or producing organic food, feed, or fiber."
Statewide totals include data withheld from individual counties to avoid disclosure of individual operations.

NOTE: The 2020 California farm & ranch cash receipts of $49.1 billion (a 3.3% decrease) DIFFERS from the gross value of production, which includes all farm production, whether sold into usual marketing channels or used on the farm where it is produced. The State of California Agricultural Commissioners reports a total for gross dollar values whereas the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Pacific Region-California reports estimated cash receipts to farmers. Therefore, agricultural statistics for California are reported by the State at a HIGHER dollar value than the USDA. 2019-20 CAC Report - Final.pdf (usda.gov)

Then there is the matter of exports of which California agricultural exports totaled $21.7 billion in 2019, an increase of 3.4 percent from 2018.

Related article on home gardening resources.

Grow it yourself or buy grownl ocally pt-2

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