Cherries show a significant increase
Published on Page 5 of the August 21, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Photo courtesy of Santa Clara County Farm Bureau
A tractor cuts alfalfa hay in a South County field
Local agriculture improved in 2012 according to Santa Clara County’s Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management’s Annual Crop Report.
This increase was due in part to increased demand of the region’s top crops and favorable weather. In total, the value of the region’s crops was nearly $260,778,800. The top selling crops in the county were nursery crops ($83,161,000), mushrooms ($63,496,000) and bell peppers ($14,055,000).
The values presented by the county department are gross values and do not reflect net profits or losses to agricultural producers.
The gross value of Santa Clara County’s agricultural production for 2012 is $260,778,800, an increase of 5 percent from the 2011 value of $247,993,900.
The county’s top three crops for more than 10 years continue to be nursery crops, mushrooms and bell peppers.
In 2012, 25 different agricultural commodities grown in Santa Clara County exceeded $1,000,000 in crop value.
Cherries showed a significant increase over 2011 due to favorable weather conditions in the month of May, moving to the fourth largest crop at $8,947,000. In 2012, there was a 50 percent increase in harvested acreage and a 61 percent increase in yield.
Cut flower production value and square feet continue to decrease, as more acreage is being used to produce Chinese vegetables.
Garlic showed an increase in acres, yield and price for a total value of $2,009,000,
Additional crops with notable increases in value in 2012 were chili peppers, salad greens and beans. Fresh tomatoes and onions declined in value compared to farm production in 2011.
