Strawberries again took the top spot in Ventura County last year, marking a quarter century as the leading crop locally.
The berry’s estimated gross value dropped 3% to nearly $709 million, according to the recently released annual crop and livestock report. The strawberry’s placement at the top of the list came as no surprise, Agricultural Commissioner Korinne Bell told county supervisors during a June 24 meeting. It has held the spot since 1999, she said.
Seven local crops posted an estimated gross value over $100 million last year – a group that included avocados, which had a 170% increase.
“Avocados had their best year ever,” Bell said.
Last year, the industry grappled with natural disasters from heat waves to the Mountain Fire, the latter causing an estimated $9 million in damages to the agricultural sector. Overall, the county had 93,025 acres of irrigated farmland, producing berries, avocados, celery, lemons and other crops totaling a gross value of roughly $2.3 billion.
Those sales increased around 7% from the previous year. The figures reflect totals before expenses, such as land leases, water and labor, officials said.
Here were the top most valuable local crops in order of gross value:
1. Strawberries
The gross estimated value of Ventura County’s top crop declined in 2024. There was a small drop in the fresh strawberry market, Bell said.
2. Avocados
The gross estimated value of avocados jumped in value to nearly $339 million. A two-year fruit, avocados take roughly 18 months to go from flower to harvest. That means an up year typically is followed by a down year.
“This was a great year for avocado production,” Bell said.
Also, the acreage increased locally, from 16,947 to 19,282. Some of the avocado trees replaced areas where lemons had been grown.
3. Nursery stock
Nursery stock includes woody ornamentals, vegetable transplants, fruit and nut trees, potted plants and herbaceous perennials. The crop dropped from second to third last year.
The gross estimated value was nearly $187 million, down around 10% over the previous year. Some of the larger nurseries stopped producing citrus tree crops, likely due to a citrus quarantine.
4. Celery
The estimated gross value of last year’s celery crop reached nearly $163 million, a slight decline from the previous year. The county is the No. 2 producer of celery in California, according to Bell.
5. Raspberries
The local raspberry crop had a small decrease last year to an estimated gross value of $162 million. That may be related to a heat wave that caused some of the crops to blister, officials said.
6. Lemons
The local lemon crop had an estimated gross value of $118 million in 2024, dropping 43% from the previous year.
“The lemons are hurting,” Bell said. “We lost acreage, but we also lost value.”
Competition from other countries was cited as a possible cause, along with rising production costs and concerns about the quarantine.
7. Peppers
Peppers, a regular among the county’s top crops, nearly doubled in value in 2024, related to a jump in production. The gross estimated value reached $111 million, officials said. The increase showed up with bell peppers not chilies, Bell said.
8. Blackberries
Blackberries reached nearly $72 million last year, up 2% over the previous year, according to the report.
9. Blueberries
The gross estimated value of blueberries reached close to $47 million in 2024. That was up 46% over the previous year.
10. Tomatoes
Tomatoes, which returned to the top 10 two years ago, remained on the list. Its gross estimated value reached $41.8 million last year. That represents a slight increase over the previous year, officials said.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Local avocado, pepper crops show big increases as lemons drop. Here’s why
Reporting by Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
