According to a recently published USDA report, California had less vegetable production in 2011 than it did in the previous year. The numbers still position the state as the leading grower of fresh vegetables in the United States.
Fresh market and dual utilization vegetable crop production for California in 2011 was 10.9 million tons. This was down 1% from 2010's totals.
Crops with increased production were artichokes, fresh carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, garlic, head lettuce, romaine lettuce, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, bell peppers, chilli peppers and tomatoes. Crops with decreased production were asparagus, snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, leaf lettuce, spring onions, summer storage onions, summer non-storage onions, pumpkins, fresh spinach, processing spinach and squash.
California accounts for half of production as well as 44% of harvested area in the United States.