By Gabriel Dillard
Fresno County is the No. 1 farm county in the nation, its farms selling a record $9.03 billion worth of production in 2024 — up nearly 6% from the previous year.
When it comes to total economic impact, that dollar figure more than doubles.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors received Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan’s 2024 crop and livestock report, which catalogues acreage, production and gross farm receipts.
Cregan also offered a first look at an economic impact report for Fresno County agriculture. Examining the 2023 crop year, farming contributed $21.66 billion to the county economy, directly supporting 63,103 jobs plus nearly 45,000 more from multiplier effects.
Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen said Fresno County is the food capital of the nation.
“California grows more than a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts, with a majority of that coming from right here in the San Joaquin Valley,” Jacobsen said in a statement. “Food grows where water flows, and 2024 was a good water year for our county allowing farmers to grow the full rainbow of crops that we are capable of here.”
Kern County was previously the top U.S. ag county in 2023, but its value dropped 8% last year.
Grapes, nuts battle
After two years in the No. 2 spot, almonds are back on top as the leading agricultural commodity in Fresno County with a gross value of $1.45 billion — up 43% compared to 2023 as prices recovered.
At the same time, harvested almond acreage fell by 6% to 308,170 last year.
Grapes moved to the No. 2 spot with a gross value of $1.04 billion, down from $1.27 billion the year before. There were 142,263 acres planted in raisins, table and wine grapes last year, down 8% from 2023.
Pistachios remained in third, with a gross value of $857.3 million — down 5% from 2023.
Incomplete picture
Despite the large numbers, Fresno County farmers were quick to point out that these represent gross returns — and don’t represent farm profits as input costs rise.
“While the public may see this record-breaking number as a reflection of the health of our local agricultural community, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” stated Jacobsen. “The past four years have been extraordinarily difficult for most local farmers due to a combination of stressors — including lower-than-average market prices, rising input costs, higher interest rates, and more.”
Focus on farmworker
This year’s report highlighted the agricultural workforce. Titled “California Farmworkers: A Vital Contribution to the State’s Economy and How We Feed the World,” the report examines the role of farm employees in the nation’s food supply.
Seasonal labor is crucial, according to the report, especially to three farm sectors — row crops, grapes and tree fruit. For instance, the Central Valley is one of three major growing areas for the year-round lettuce harvest.
California’s farm success depends on farmworkers, the report says.
“Without them, California would face significant labor shortages, reduced capacity, and increased costs, all of which would threaten its position as a national and global agricultural leader,” according to the report.
Economic impact
The “Economic Contributions of Fresno County Agriculture” report found that in 2023, agriculture contributed a total of $21.66 billion into the economy, directly supporting 63,103 jobs plus nearly 45,000 employees from multiplier effects.
That equates to about 108,034 jobs, or 1 in 9 jobs in all of Fresno County.
Farmers raise more than 300 different crops across 1.88 million acres. Local food processing adds substantial value, with $6.02 billion in direct processing output spanning sectors from meat and poultry processing ($1.747 billion) to nut manufacturing ($1.5 billion), light processing of fresh produce ($831 million), and canning operations ($635.9 million). Major facilities process everything from beef and poultry to dried fruits, nuts, wine, frozen products, and dairy items, creating value-added products for domestic and international markets.