The value of San Diego County’s agricultural output increased by $24 million in 2022 over the previous year, the seventh year of growth in the last decade, according to the county’s annual crop report released Monday.
The 2022 growing season saw a 1.4% increase over 2021, rising to almost $1.78 billion. The county remains the number one producer of nursery and cut flower products and in the number of organic producers in California.
San Diego County saw some decreases as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is showing signs of a healthy recovery, a county statement read.
Avocados earned the biggest spike in value of any crop from 2021 to 2022, with a 48% increase from roughly $82.8 million to $123 million — partly attributed to better weather, according to the report. Additionally, fruit and nut crops increased by 29% from roughly $237 million in 2021 to $306 million.
However, “bedding plants, color and perennials, cacti and succulents” again represented the top crop category in the county, bringing in a total of $445,359,543 — 25% of the total value of agriculture production in the county.
Several crops saw a decrease in value, including ornamental trees and shrubs, which declined from $382 million in 2021 to $375 million; however, it still ranked second on the annual Top 10 crops grown in San Diego.
According to the report, the overall acreage devoted to commercial agriculture went from 219,874 acres in 2021 to 214,438 acres in 2022; a decrease of about 5,000 acres or 2.5%.
The county conducts about 1,500 inspections annually where pesticides are used. As a result, the county has seen a compliance rate of about 90% for pesticide inspections conducted in 2022.
Supervisor Jim Desmond “emphasized the county’s strong commitment to safeguarding pesticide usage across all communities” by allocating around $5 million from the county’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures’ annual budget for the endeavor.
Other notable information from the report includes:
- Honey and beeswax saw the greatest percentage increase in value from 2021 to 2022, rising 724%, from $79,023 to $651,295, as the apiary industry recovered from the impacts of drought
- Livestock and poultry products saw the second largest value increase in 2022 of $39 million
- Indoor flowering and foliage plants remained third in the Top 10, however, the products’ value decreased by 13%, from roughly $356 million in 2021 to $311 million, and
- The overall value of citrus increased by 20%, despite a 5% decrease in acreage, due to a “spike in price and better weather,” according to the report.
– City News Service
Corrected, 7:50 p.m. Oct. 26, 2023, to reflect accurate crop value in the headline.
