The Business Journal has released its list of Central California's top produce commodities for 2024, using combined data from Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties. The figures were compiled from the counties' agricultural commissioners' annual crop reports.
Almonds ranked first among plant-based commodities, valued at US$2.6 billion, up from US$2.08 billion in 2023. The crop was harvested across 587,503 acres (237,729 hectares), a slight decrease from 606,831 acres (245,633 hectares) the previous year.
Pistachios followed in second place, with a total 2024 value of US$1.7 billion and 387,081 harvested acres (156,624 hectares). This marks an increase from 2023, when the crop was valued at US$1.4 billion and covered 362,660 acres (146,760 hectares).
Table grapes ranked third, with a reported 2024 value of US$1.4 billion and 52,810 acres (21,368 hectares) harvested. This represents a decline from 2023, when the crop ranked higher at US$1.77 billion and 61,417 acres (24,853 hectares).
Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan presented the county's 2024 crop and livestock report last week, detailing acreage, production, and total farm receipts. Fresno County reported US$9.03 billion in total agricultural production value for 2024, an increase of nearly 6 percent from the previous year.
The report reaffirmed Fresno County's position as the top agricultural county in the United States, surpassing Kern County, which held the lead in 2023 but saw an 8 percent decline in value last year.
For the 2023 crop year, Fresno County agriculture contributed US$2.66 billion to the local economy and directly supported 63,103 jobs, with nearly 45,000 additional jobs generated through multiplier effects, representing about one in nine jobs across the county.
Source: The Business Journal
