Despite low commodity prices in two of Fresno County’s primary crops, the region’s gross agricultural output increased slightly in 2022. Fresno leads the state - and the nation – regarding almond production, but poor producer prices for almonds dropped the commodity to No. 2 on the county’s list of top crops by value.
Almond prices remain low, yet with nearly 25% of the state’s almond crop grown in Fresno County, gross receipts for the crop topped $1.14 billion from 636 million pounds of nuts produced. The average grower price for almonds last year fell nearly 16% to $1.57 per pound, far below the average retail price for almonds in the grocery store.
Conversely, stone fruit prices were much improved in 2022 over the previous year. Apricot prices were up almost 89% with nectarines up 41%. Plum prices rose over 32% from the previous year and peach prices varied between 15.5% higher for processed fruit to almost 39% higher for freestone peaches.
Source: farmprogress.com