For the third year in a row, Santa Barbara County’s agriculture industry has generated more than $1 billion, Agricultural Commissioner Bill Gillette announced on April 13.
Agriculture continued to be the county’s major producing industry in 2008, grossing approximately $1.14 billion, according to a press release from the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. This is an increase of $34 million, or approximately 3.1 percent, from grosses reported in 2007.
The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office’s annual report records the acreage, yield, and gross dollar value of agricultural goods produced in Santa Barbara County. Production, transportation, and marketing costs, however, are subtracted from that figure to determine net returns to growers.
“Santa Barbara County’s agricultural strength is due to our crop diversity,” Gillette said in the release. “Agriculture also continues to provide a strong base for our local economy.”
Strawberries remained the county’s leading crop in 2008, grossing $309.3 million. A weather-related decrease in yield led to a $3.5 million decrease compared to 2007. Broccoli came in second place again despite a $28.8 million dollar gain for a total value of $159.8 million. A below-average harvest kept wine grapes in third place with a total value of $86.1 million, the report said. And more than 50 different crops produced in 2008 reported gross totals of more than $1 million per crop variety.
For more information, including a full copy of the 2008 report, visit agcommissioner.com.
This article appears in Apr 16-23, 2009.
