CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE OVERVIEW

As it has been every year since 1948, California is home to the largest and most diverse agricultural economy in the United States. California, with its fertile soils and temperate weather, is where more than 350 crop and livestock commodities, ranging from apricots to zucchini and daikon to jojoba are produced. California is the nation’s leading producer in 75 commodities. Furthermore, a number of popular crops, including almonds, pistachios, raisins, walnuts, are exclusively grown in California.

A closer look at the facts reveal why many consider California to be the nation’s foodbasket.

• California produces nearly one out of every five glasses of milk in the nation.
• Over ninety percent of the grapes that are grown in the nation are grown in California.
• Over half of the nation’s nuts, fruits, and vegetables are grown in California.

Just as renowned and popular as the Hollywood features that are enjoyed by billions or the innovative technology from Silicon Valley that makes even the most far-flung corners of the world just a click away, more and more people from the world over are looking to the plethora of California crop and livestock commodities as their main sources of a nutritious, balanced diet. Currently, California exports agricultural products to nearly 150 nations. One can be sure that, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there is someone out there who is currently enjoying the fruits of California’s diverse and vibrant agricultural industry.

I encourage you to periodically visit my web site so that we can discover together the many wonders of California’s second-to-none agricultural industry and the truly amazing abundance of crops and commodities that it shares with the rest of the world.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer