Monterey County's crop value exceeds $3 billion
Monterey County's crop value exceeds $3 billion
Leaf lettuce continued its dominant grip in Monterey County for the fourth straight year as shown in the Monterey County Crop Report 2005, which was released June 6.
The crop report -- compiled by the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's office -- put the county's production value at nearly $3.3 billion for 2005, the fourth time the county has exceed $3 billion in gross production value. That value was an 11 percent climb over 2004 -- which was 3 percent greater than 2003 -- with more than 40 crops exceeding $1 million in production value.
The county's combined leaf and Iceberg lettuce crop came in at about $912 million in value, a 27 percent increase over the nearly $719 million posted in 2004. Leaf lettuce had a value of nearly $601 million, while Iceberg lettuce was valued at nearly $312 million.
Strawberry production -- which leapt to second place ahead of Iceberg lettuce -- climbed $74 million to nearly $391 million on increased acreage, production and price.
The remaining top-10 crops were as follows: nursery, $276 million; wine grapes, $254 million; broccoli, $216 million; spinach, $188 million; spring mix, $164 million; salad products, $132 million; miscellaneous vegetables, $105 million.
Eric Lauritzen, Monterey County's agricultural commissioner, said that the county ranks fourth in agricultural production in California. The county shipped more than 580 million pounds of produce to more than 50 countries worldwide.
Though overall production values were strong, broccoli and asparagus are two commodities that experienced a drop in production value. The miscellaneous vegetable category -- climbing to 10th spot -- includes about 20 crops, several of which are used in value-added products.
Mike Antle, vice president at Spreckels, CA-based grower-shipper Tanimura & Antle, said that T&A and others are producing "more items with less acres" and less input. But he added that next year's crop report may not look so rosy, as this summer the county is experiencing a "train wreck" in part brought on by high transportation costs and heavy competition in shipping cross country.
Ernie Farley, a partner in Watsonville, CA-based Sundance Berry Farms, which has acreage in Monterey County, agreed that it will be hard for the county to repeat the performance of 2005 in 2006.
"Lots of people in the berry industry are off to a bad start," Mr. Farley said.
The crop report -- compiled by the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's office -- put the county's production value at nearly $3.3 billion for 2005, the fourth time the county has exceed $3 billion in gross production value. That value was an 11 percent climb over 2004 -- which was 3 percent greater than 2003 -- with more than 40 crops exceeding $1 million in production value.
The county's combined leaf and Iceberg lettuce crop came in at about $912 million in value, a 27 percent increase over the nearly $719 million posted in 2004. Leaf lettuce had a value of nearly $601 million, while Iceberg lettuce was valued at nearly $312 million.
Strawberry production -- which leapt to second place ahead of Iceberg lettuce -- climbed $74 million to nearly $391 million on increased acreage, production and price.
The remaining top-10 crops were as follows: nursery, $276 million; wine grapes, $254 million; broccoli, $216 million; spinach, $188 million; spring mix, $164 million; salad products, $132 million; miscellaneous vegetables, $105 million.
Eric Lauritzen, Monterey County's agricultural commissioner, said that the county ranks fourth in agricultural production in California. The county shipped more than 580 million pounds of produce to more than 50 countries worldwide.
Though overall production values were strong, broccoli and asparagus are two commodities that experienced a drop in production value. The miscellaneous vegetable category -- climbing to 10th spot -- includes about 20 crops, several of which are used in value-added products.
Mike Antle, vice president at Spreckels, CA-based grower-shipper Tanimura & Antle, said that T&A and others are producing "more items with less acres" and less input. But he added that next year's crop report may not look so rosy, as this summer the county is experiencing a "train wreck" in part brought on by high transportation costs and heavy competition in shipping cross country.
Ernie Farley, a partner in Watsonville, CA-based Sundance Berry Farms, which has acreage in Monterey County, agreed that it will be hard for the county to repeat the performance of 2005 in 2006.
"Lots of people in the berry industry are off to a bad start," Mr. Farley said.
