VENTURA, Calif. – On Tuesday, July 23, the County of Ventura’s Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures presented the 2023 Crop and Livestock report to the Board of Supervisors. The annual report, which details the top crops and status of the agricultural industry in Ventura County, reported the 2023 gross value of agriculture in the county equaled $2,170,243,000 – an increase of 2% from the value reported in 2022.
“The annual Crop and Livestock Report truly serves as a yearbook for the efforts of the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures,” stated Korinne Bell, Agricultural Commissioner. “The pages within this report celebrate our agricultural industry and the great work that is being done within our County. The 2023 Crop & Livestock Report is a tribute to the success and resilience of our local growers as they face challenges and implement integrated pest management strategies to combat pests and diseases, while remaining lead producers of agriculture in our state.”
Within the report, the 10 top crops for 2023 are the following:
- Strawberries
- Nursery Stock
- Lemons
- Celery
- Raspberries
- Avocados
- Blackberries
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
Of the crops within the top ten, strawberries continue to remain the top crop for the county, valued at $733,257,000. However, it is of note that blackberries jumped up to the seventh spot on the list of top crops and experienced a 56% increase in production value at $70,177,000.
The 2023 Ventura County Crop and Livestock Report commemorates the 150th anniversary of Ventura County and the strong agricultural history of the region. The county is a significant agricultural producer in California and is ranked 10th in the state for gross value of total agriculture production. Within California, Ventura County is the lead producer of avocados, raspberries, and kale.
In addition to the focus on agriculture production, the report also features informational articles on the presence and control of pests within the county. To date, the county, like many regions within the state of California, has undertaken ongoing efforts to combat the presence of pests such as fruit flies and citrus greening disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB).
Since 1895, under the direction of the Board of Supervisors, the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures has worked in cooperation with the California Departments of Food and Agriculture and Pesticide Regulation, agricultural community partners, residents, and others to protect and promote Ventura County’s agriculture in the areas of pesticide use enforcement, permitting, quality control, certification of exports, among others.
To read the 2023 Crop and Livestock Report, please visit: https://www.ventura.org/agricultural-commissioner/reports/
