There are more than 2 million farms in the United States, about 98% of which are operated by families, individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. About 87% of all agricultural products in America are produced on family ranches or farms. A single farm feeds an average of 166 people per year, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Even so, farming is a mere sliver of the U.S. economy, representing just 1% of America’s GDP—farm and ranch families make up less than 2% of America’s population. More African Americans are operating farms now than ever before, likewise for Hispanic and Latino farm operators.
One in four farmers are beginning farmers, a term that represents those with fewer than 10 years in agriculture work—their average age is 46. About 11% of U.S. farmers served or are serving in the military. The U.S. imports $129 billion worth of agricultural products a year, but the country maintains a positive trade balance by exporting $137 billion worth. Stacker compiled a list of the most valuable crops grown in California using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture state agriculture overview.
Crops are ranked by total annual value of production as of Feb. 2, 2022. Keep reading to see which crops grown in California are the most valuable.
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#52. Oats
– 2020 production: $900,000
– Top states:
— #1. South Dakota ($27.5 million)
— #2. Minnesota ($26.4 million)
— #3. Wisconsin ($20.6 million)
— #4. North Dakota ($20.1 million)
— #5. Iowa ($17.9 million)
#51. Barley
– 2020 production: $6.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. Idaho ($269.5 million)
— #2. Montana ($201.0 million)
— #3. North Dakota ($127.5 million)
— #4. Colorado ($31.6 million)
— #5. Washington ($31.3 million)
#50. Safflower
– 2020 production: $12.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($12.2 million)
— #2. Montana ($7.9 million)
— #3. Idaho ($4.4 million)
— #4. South Dakota ($3.5 million)
— #5. Utah ($3.4 million)
#49. Sunflower
– 2020 production: $13.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. North Dakota ($263.7 million)
— #2. South Dakota ($220.2 million)
— #3. Minnesota ($29.5 million)
— #4. Kansas ($21.5 million)
— #5. Texas ($18.3 million)
#48. Pumpkins
– 2020 production: $20.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. Texas ($25.9 million)
— #2. Pennsylvania ($22.5 million)
— #3. Illinois ($21.3 million)
— #4. California ($20.7 million)
— #5. Virginia ($17.6 million)You may also like:States where people in California are getting new jobs
#47. Cucumbers
– 2020 production: $22.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. Florida ($77.4 million)
— #2. Michigan ($51.8 million)
— #3. California ($22.1 million)
— #4. North Carolina ($19.1 million)
— #5. Texas ($9.3 million)
#46. Asparagus
– 2020 production: $23.4 million
– Top states:
— #1. Michigan ($23.9 million)
— #2. California ($23.4 million)
— #3. Washington ($23.2 million)
— #4. New Jersey ($14.9 million)
#45. Apricots
– 2020 production: $30.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($30.0 million)
— #2. Washington ($4.5 million)
#44. Beans
– 2020 production: $45.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. Florida ($69.6 million)
— #2. California ($45.7 million)
— #3. Wisconsin ($35.3 million)
— #4. Michigan ($31.3 million)
— #5. Georgia ($24.9 million)
#43. Squash
– 2020 production: $47.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($47.9 million)
— #2. Michigan ($44.5 million)
— #3. New York ($23.7 million)
— #4. North Carolina ($16.0 million)
— #5. New Jersey ($11.1 million)You may also like:Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in California
#42. Wheat
– 2020 production: $48.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. North Dakota ($1.6 billion)
— #2. Kansas ($1.3 billion)
— #3. Montana ($1.2 billion)
— #4. Washington ($942.4 million)
— #5. Idaho ($582.4 million)
#41. Corn
– 2020 production: $50.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. Iowa ($9.9 billion)
— #2. Illinois ($9.3 billion)
— #3. Nebraska ($7.6 billion)
— #4. Minnesota ($6.1 billion)
— #5. Indiana ($4.4 billion)
#40. Olives
– 2020 production: $57.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($57.9 million)
#39. Artichokes
– 2020 production: $62.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($62.6 million)
#38. Pears
– 2020 production: $68.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. Washington ($176.0 million)
— #2. Oregon ($97.6 million)
— #3. California ($68.0 million)You may also like:Highest-rated specialty museums in California, according to Tripadvisor
#37. Kiwifruit
– 2020 production: $76.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($76.3 million)
#36. Cotton
– 2020 production: $76.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. Texas ($1.4 billion)
— #2. Georgia ($713.6 million)
— #3. Arkansas ($413.7 million)
— #4. Mississippi ($356.5 million)
— #5. Alabama ($220.1 million)
#35. Apples
– 2020 production: $78.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. Washington ($2.1 billion)
— #2. New York ($328.1 million)
— #3. Michigan ($270.2 million)
— #4. Pennsylvania ($91.1 million)
— #5. California ($78.0 million)
#34. Grapefruit
– 2020 production: $83.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($83.9 million)
— #2. Florida ($66.5 million)
— #3. Texas ($48.5 million)
#33. Prunes
– 2020 production: $112.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($112.3 million)You may also like:Highest-rated museums in California
#32. Dates
– 2020 production: $113.8 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($113.8 million)
— #2. Arizona ($75.8 million)
#31. Nectarines
– 2020 production: $120.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($120.5 million)
#30. Plums
– 2020 production: $122.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($122.2 million)
#29. Peppers
– 2020 production: $145.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($145.5 million)
— #2. New Jersey ($56.0 million)
— #3. New Mexico ($51.9 million)
— #4. North Carolina ($21.9 million)
— #5. Michigan ($14.3 million)
#28. Cabbage
– 2020 production: $148.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($148.0 million)
— #2. New York ($81.7 million)
— #3. Florida ($49.9 million)
— #4. Texas ($40.8 million)
— #5. Arizona ($32.2 million)You may also like:Countries California imports the most goods from
#27. Melons
– 2020 production: $184.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($184.3 million)
— #2. Florida ($157.5 million)
— #3. Georgia ($122.5 million)
— #4. Arizona ($82.5 million)
— #5. Texas ($61.0 million)
#26. Sweet corn
– 2020 production: $194.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($194.7 million)
— #2. Georgia ($137.5 million)
— #3. Florida ($136.7 million)
— #4. Washington ($73.9 million)
— #5. Minnesota ($62.8 million)
#25. Cherries
– 2020 production: $210.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. Washington ($561.7 million)
— #2. California ($210.5 million)
— #3. Oregon ($133.8 million)
— #4. Michigan ($32.7 million)
— #5. Wisconsin ($5.0 million)
#24. Blueberries
– 2020 production: $215.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. Washington ($217.5 million)
— #2. California ($215.7 million)
— #3. Oregon ($119.6 million)
— #4. Georgia ($99.3 million)
— #5. Michigan ($75.4 million)
#23. Potatoes
– 2020 production: $227.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. Idaho ($981.2 million)
— #2. Washington ($753.4 million)
— #3. Wisconsin ($351.0 million)
— #4. North Dakota ($278.5 million)
— #5. Colorado ($241.8 million)You may also like:Most popular girl names in the 80s in California
#22. Sweet potatoes
– 2020 production: $229.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. North Carolina ($375.4 million)
— #2. California ($229.3 million)
— #3. Mississippi ($121.5 million)
#21. Garlic
– 2020 production: $264.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($264.0 million)
#20. Cauliflower
– 2020 production: $267.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($267.2 million)
— #2. Arizona ($79.2 million)
#19. Peaches
– 2020 production: $308.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($308.3 million)
— #2. South Carolina ($101.2 million)
— #3. Georgia ($40.5 million)
— #4. New Jersey ($20.8 million)
— #5. Pennsylvania ($20.1 million)
#18. Spinach
– 2020 production: $313.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($313.6 million)
— #2. Arizona ($113.9 million)
— #3. New Jersey ($6.2 million)
— #4. Texas ($5.5 million)You may also like:Colleges with the best ROI in California
#17. Celery
– 2020 production: $358.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($358.6 million)
#16. Raspberries
– 2020 production: $406.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($406.2 million)
— #2. Washington ($62.7 million)
#15. Avocados
– 2020 production: $411.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($411.7 million)
— #2. Florida ($13.7 million)
— #3. Hawaii ($1.2 million)
#14. Lemons
– 2020 production: $614.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($614.9 million)
— #2. Arizona ($50.0 million)
#13. Carrots
– 2020 production: $685.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($685.2 million)
— #2. Washington ($22.5 million)
— #3. Wisconsin ($8.5 million)You may also like:California is the #3 state with the fewest people living near toxic release facilities
#12. Broccoli
– 2020 production: $782.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($782.1 million)
— #2. Arizona ($92.8 million)
#11. Tangerines
– 2020 production: $795.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($795.0 million)
— #2. Florida ($26.1 million)
#10. Rice
– 2020 production: $846.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. Arkansas ($1.3 billion)
— #2. California ($846.9 million)
— #3. Louisiana ($397.4 million)
— #4. Texas ($195.6 million)
— #5. Missouri ($180.1 million)
#9. Oranges
– 2020 production: $858.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($858.1 million)
— #2. Florida ($837.1 million)
— #3. Texas ($16.4 million)
#8. Lettuce
– 2020 production: $930.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($930.5 million)
— #2. Arizona ($321.9 million)You may also like:Best private high schools in California
#7. Walnuts
– 2020 production: $957.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($957.7 million)
#6. Hay & haylage
– 2020 production: $1.0 billion
– Top states:
— #1. Texas ($1.5 billion)
— #2. Wisconsin ($1.1 billion)
— #3. California ($1.0 billion)
— #4. Idaho ($930.9 million)
— #5. Pennsylvania ($881.5 million)
#5. Tomatoes
– 2020 production: $1.2 billion
– Top states:
— #1. California ($1.2 billion)
— #2. Florida ($463.0 million)
#4. Strawberries
– 2020 production: $2.0 billion
– Top states:
— #1. California ($2.0 billion)
— #2. Florida ($239.8 million)
#3. Pistachios
– 2020 production: $2.9 billion
– Top states:
— #1. California ($2.9 billion)You may also like:Countries California exports the most goods to
#2. Grapes
– 2020 production: $4.5 billion
– Top states:
— #1. California ($4.5 billion)
— #2. Washington ($302.2 million)
#1. Almonds
– 2020 production: $5.6 billion
– Top states:
— #1. California ($5.6 billion)