The Orange County Agricultural Commissioner’s office released its 2022 Crop Report, which highlights an agricultural industry production value of $86,378,000 throughout the county.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2023
Contact: Shannon Widor 714-667-9759 (office) or 714-438-9707 (cell)
WHAT
Orange County, CA – The Orange County Agricultural Commissioner’s office released its 2022 Crop Report, which highlights an agricultural industry production value of $86,378,000 throughout the county. According to 2022 data, the nursery industry contributed to 49 percent of the county’s total agricultural income.
The values represented in this report reflect the gross value of agricultural commodities grown in Orange County and not the costs associated with production, labor, harvesting, and preparation for market.
As noted in the report, inclement wind events caused damage to tree fruit crops and drought conditions provided poor grazing opportunities for our livestock producers. With rising inflation forcing customers to cut back on discretionary spending, many of nursery stock growers reported slower sales after the late summer months.
“The agricultural production value in 2022 represents a decrease of 8.9 percent from 2021, yet agriculture remains a major driver for Orange County’s economy,” said Jose Arriaga, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures with the County of Orange. “What we have seen are growers shifting their inventories to pursue high value commodities and diversifying their consumer base by aggressively expanding into online sales, social media, and direct marketing strategies.”
Highlights of the 2022 Orange County Crop Report include:
- Single crop with the highest total value in dollars: Strawberries
- Crop utilizing the greatest acreage: Avocados
- Crop with the largest harvest (in tons): Bell peppers
- Largest increase from 2021: Sweet corn
- Number of Federal Phytosanitary Certificates issued for shipments of plant products to international trading partners: 495
The report also highlights Orange County’s livestock and apiary (bees/beehives) production and an overview of pests that are harmful to the agricultural industry, such as the Oriental Fruit Fly. The data in the crop report was developed in collaboration with the nursery industry, ranchers, farmers and Future Farmers of America education programs that represent the agricultural industry in Orange County.
To view the 2022 Orange County Crop Report, visit www.bit.ly/44JNbhy.
Orange County’s Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures office promotes environmental quality, protects consumers and sustains business competitiveness through education, regulation and regional programs.
The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures office is within the OC Environmental Resources service area of Orange County Public Works (OCPW). For more information about the Agricultural Commissioner’s office, visit https://ocerac.ocpublicworks.com. For more information about OCPW, visit www.OCPublicWorks.com or follow us on social media using #OCPublicWorks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
714.667.8800 | Info@OCPW.ocgov.com
601 North Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
www.ocpublicworks.com
P.O. Box 4048, Santa Ana, CA 92702-4048
