Recipes — Cultivate California (2024)

FAQs

What food is California known for growing? ›

Half of all fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. come from California, and the state effectively produces all (at least 99 percent) of America's almonds, pistachios, pomegranates, and walnuts. California is also the nation's leading grower of lima beans, lemons, kumquats, raspberries, strawberries, and spinach—to ...

farms and ranches, California produces over 13 % percent of the nation's agricultural production value. California's top 20 crop and livestock commodities account for more than $25 billion in value. Each of the top 10 commodities exceed $1 billion in value.

Thanks to a unique geography and a dry climate that provides an almost year-round growing season, California is the nation's leading farm state and one of the world's largest producers of food and fiber.

Oranges, in particular, are a top commodity and one of the most consumed fruits by Americans. California produces more than 80% of the United States' fresh oranges and also exports to 16 countries around the world.

California's Top 10 Agricultural Commodities

Grapes — $5.54 billion. Cattle and Calves — $3.63 billion. Almonds — $3.52 billion. Lettuce — $3.15 billion.

California's top valued agricultural export commodity continues to be almonds, with more than $4.6 billion in foreign sales in 2021.

In fact, California leads the nation in the growth and production of many different crops – and some are grown ONLY in California*. Let's take a look. *This means that according to CDFA statistics, California grows 99% of the commercially produced crop in the United States.

California by itself is the 5^th largest supplier of food and cotton in the world. California produces nearly double the agricultural revenue of the 2nd highest state (Iowa).

California's economy is the largest of any US state, with a $3.6 trillion gross state product as of 2022. It is the largest sub-national economy in the world. California's agricultural industry has the highest output of any U.S. state, and is led by its dairy, almonds, and grapes.

What is the state fruit of California? ›

Our obesity rate is the fourth-lowest in the U.S. We have some of the country's lowest rates of infant mortality and suicide. Our more liberal public policy counts, too. California's strong environmental protections for air and water help us live longer.

Many of California's specialty crops (such as almonds, artichokes, and broccoli) are grown almost nowhere else in the country. Specialty crops face a variety of climate-related challenges.

The state's largest manufacturing export category is computer and electronic products, which accounted for $41.0 billion of California's total goods exports in 2023.

Almonds. California produces 80% of the world's almonds and 100% of the United States commercial supply.

Many of California's specialty crops (such as almonds, artichokes, and broccoli) are grown almost nowhere else in the country. Specialty crops face a variety of climate-related challenges.