SLO County agriculture hits $1 billion for fifth consecutive year
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - San Luis Obispo County farms, ranches and vineyards generated more than $1 billion in agricultural production in 2025.
The figure was delivered Tuesday by County Agricultural Commissioner Martin Settevendemie at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting during the annual overview of agricultural Statistics.
"It's just thrilling to see these big numbers from 2025," said Brian Talley, Talley Farms, President/CEO "It was a great year for San Luis Obispo County and I have high hopes that the trend will continue."
The presentative showed strawberries remained the county’s top-valued crop, which had a value of $310,641,000, representing 27.94% of the county's entire crop value.
"Strawberries has really emerged as the most important commodity grown in the coastal valleys of California," said Talley. "And here in San Luis Obispo County, and just to the south of us in Santa Barbara County, it's really come to dominate our agricultural economy."
After strawberries, followed by wine grapes at $196,145,000, and cattle and calves at $78,938,000 rounded out the top three.
Together, the top three commodities accounted for more than 53% of the county’s total agricultural value.
The report shoed fruit and nut sector continued to lead county agriculture in 2025, reaching its highest total value in five years at more than $649 million.
The top ten commodities by value in 2025 were:
- Strawberries ($310,641,000)
- Wine Grapes ($196,145,000)
- Cattle and Calves ($78,938,00)
- Avocados ($50,731,000)
- Broccoli ($44,948,000)
- Cauliflower ($33,846,000)
- Vegetable and Ornamental Transplants ($32,751,000)
- Leaf Lettuce ($25,800,000)
- Head Lettuce ($23,470,000)
- Lemons ($22,693,00)
Overall, San Luis Obispo County growers benefited from generally favorable conditions in 2025.
Late-winter and early-spring rainfall provided important moisture, while a cool spring, relatively few frost events and moderate summer temperatures helped many crops.
Even with favorable conditions during much of the year, 2025 also brought challenges.
According to the report, brief periods of extreme heat and increasingly dry conditions later in the summer created additional difficulties, particularly for inland farmers and ranchers.
Producers also continued to feel the squeeze from rising labor costs, higher prices for supplies and other production expenses.
Water availability remained a concern, while changing markets and consumer demand added more uncertainty for some agricultural sectors.
Even with those challenges, the latest numbers indicated just how important agriculture remains to San Luis Obispo County, continuing to generate more than $1 billion in value year after year.
