Once again, Fresno County has been named the top agricultural producer in the United States. Home to 1.88 million acres of Central Valley farmland, the area produces upwards of 350 crops every year, as well as more than $8 billion in annual farm production.
Almonds, grapes, pistachios, and tomatoes are among Fresno County’s most popular crops, with almonds and grapes regularly generating more than a billion dollars yearly. Cattle, poultry, and dairy are dependable staples, too, each generating at least $500 million during recent years. In addition to providing much of America’s vegetables, fruits, and nuts, Fresno ships its commodities to nearly 100 different countries around the world.
What accounts for Fresno’s record-setting output? It isn’t just the fertile soil; it’s a commitment to innovation, too. For example, the area’s crop report in 2022 highlighted the use of “detector canines” to sniff out invasive pests like the Mediterranean Fruit Fly and the Japanese Beetle. More recently, emerging technologies like satellite-based crop health monitoring platforms and AI-powered advisory systems have allowed growers in Fresno to improve not only their farm management, but their harvests, as well.
Fresno’s agricultural sector is quite large, accounting for 20% of the area’s total jobs. Congratulations to all the growers, ranchers, managers, supervisors, engineers, and other ag-business professionals for another successful year.