Robert Meyers of Roots N’ Fruits at Escondido Farmer’s Market last week
Eric Larson director of the Escondido-based San Diego Farm Bureau said a “slight drop in production value comes as no surprise,” when he saw today’s county Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures annual crop report.
“In light of the challenges faced by farmers from the drought and the rising cost of water,” Larson continued, “the change is small enough to be seen as a testament to the resolve of farmers to overcome the water issues.”
This was in response to San Diego County agricultural’s annual rite of fall, release of the official accounting of farming valuers and production in the last year. This annual snapshot revealed that county ag production was $1.82 billion in 2014, compared to $1.85 billion in 2013.
To view the entire report: San Diego County Crop Report-Final 2014
The drop in value represented the first decline in overall value in six years and only the third since 1996. The total number of acres in production dropped 12.1 percent, the largest decrease in 18 years, the report said.
Each of the top three crops — ornamental trees and shrubs; indoor flowering and foliage plants; and bedding plants, color and herbaceous perennials — increased in value in 2014, according to the report.
The fourth most valuable crop, avocados, which has been greatly affected by drought and water prices, dropped 22 percent in value.
Wine grape values, which in 2012 saw a huge boost in interest and a 512 percent increase in value, increased by 0.88 percent in 2014 to roughly $6.6 million. However, acres in production jumped 9.6 percent to 923 acres — capping a 121 percent increase in acreage since 2011.
Cacti and succulents, meanwhile, jumped 64 percent in value, from roughly $26.5 million in 2013 to $43.4 million in 2014.
San Diego County has more farms than any other in the U.S. with 5,732, though the agricultural economy ranks 20th. Nearly 19 percent of the farms are run by women.
Peacefield Farms
