The value of crops grown in Santa Cruz County increased 1.5 percent in 2022, compared with 3.4 percent the previous year, according to the annual county agriculture report.
The total gross production value of Santa Cruz-grown commodities rose to $667 million from $657 million in 2021, and $636 million in 2020.
Weather, labor and the marketplace are all factors in gross production yield and value, according to the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. The 2022 figures do not reflect losses from 2023 winter storms.
About $6 of every $10 in gross economic activity came from strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, the office said Friday. Strawberries led the pack at $220 million, up 4.2 percent.
Vegetable crops contributed $101 million, a 5.6 percent increase. Nursery crops including cut flowers fell 6.4 percent to $128 million.
Wine grapes tumbled 24 percent in gross value to $5.9 million, following a bumper crop in 2021, according to the agriculture commissioner.