Most valuable crops grown in California

By Stacker

Published February 4, 2022 6:53 am

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Most valuable crops grown in California

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)

Nitr // Shutterstock

#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)

Vladimir Konstantinov // Shutterstock

#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)

EsfilPla // Shutterstock

#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)

Smileus // Shutterstock

#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)

Fotokostic // Shutterstock

#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)

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#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)

Mathia Coco // Shutterstock

#45. Apricots

– 2020 production: $30.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($30.0 million)
— #2. Washington ($4.5 million)

SunflowerMomma // Shutterstock

#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)

alicja neumiler // Shutterstock

#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)

Canva

#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)

Claudia Harms-Warlies // Shutterstock

#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)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#40. Olives

– 2020 production: $57.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($57.9 million)

Perseo Media // Shutterstock

#39. Artichokes

– 2020 production: $62.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($62.6 million)

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#38. Pears

– 2020 production: $68.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. Washington ($176.0 million)
— #2. Oregon ($97.6 million)
— #3. California ($68.0 million)

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#37. Kiwifruit

– 2020 production: $76.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($76.3 million)

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#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)

Lewis Tse Pui Lung // Shutterstock

#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)

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#34. Grapefruit

– 2020 production: $83.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($83.9 million)
— #2. Florida ($66.5 million)
— #3. Texas ($48.5 million)

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#33. Prunes

– 2020 production: $112.3 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($112.3 million)

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#32. Dates

– 2020 production: $113.8 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($113.8 million)
— #2. Arizona ($75.8 million)

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#31. Nectarines

– 2020 production: $120.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($120.5 million)

Artem Gaincev // Shutterstock

#30. Plums

– 2020 production: $122.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($122.2 million)

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#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)

AePatt Journey // Shutterstock

#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)

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#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)

lovelyday12 // Shutterstock

#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)

branislavpudar // Shutterstock

#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)

Peter Titmuss // Shutterstock

#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)

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#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)

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#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)

alicja neumiler

#21. Garlic

– 2020 production: $264.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($264.0 million)

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#20. Cauliflower

– 2020 production: $267.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($267.2 million)
— #2. Arizona ($79.2 million)

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#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)

FS Stock // Shutterstock

#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)

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#17. Celery

– 2020 production: $358.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($358.6 million)

oceanfishing // Shutterstock

#16. Raspberries

– 2020 production: $406.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($406.2 million)
— #2. Washington ($62.7 million)

anarociogf // Shutterstock

#15. Avocados

– 2020 production: $411.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($411.7 million)
— #2. Florida ($13.7 million)
— #3. Hawaii ($1.2 million)

Marco Ossino // Shutterstock

#14. Lemons

– 2020 production: $614.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($614.9 million)
— #2. Arizona ($50.0 million)

Milosz Maslanka // Shutterstock

#13. Carrots

– 2020 production: $685.2 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($685.2 million)
— #2. Washington ($22.5 million)
— #3. Wisconsin ($8.5 million)

Deyan Georgiev // Shutterstock

#12. Broccoli

– 2020 production: $782.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($782.1 million)
— #2. Arizona ($92.8 million)

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#11. Tangerines

– 2020 production: $795.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($795.0 million)
— #2. Florida ($26.1 million)

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#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)

SchnepfDesign // Shutterstock

#9. Oranges

– 2020 production: $858.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($858.1 million)
— #2. Florida ($837.1 million)
— #3. Texas ($16.4 million)

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#8. Lettuce

– 2020 production: $930.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($930.5 million)
— #2. Arizona ($321.9 million)

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#7. Walnuts

– 2020 production: $957.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($957.7 million)

Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#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)

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