Why California?

California is the number one agricultural producer and exporter in the United States, representing a $35 billion industry. Nowhere else in the world is there production of this variety and volume of agricultural products.  

In fact, California produces:
•    Over 350 different crops
•    More than 90 percent of the nation’s tomatoes and grapes
•    All of the country’s commercial almonds, dates, figs, walnuts, olives, cling peaches, prunes and raisins
•    One out of every five glasses of milk consumed in the United States

Out of 50 states, California consumes 12 percent of all food products produced in the United States. California is also the nation’s leader in agricultural exports. In 2003, it shipped more than $7 billion in both food and agricultural commodities around the world. The total investment by California’s 78,500 farms in terms of direct, indirect and induced economic impact is staggering.  This investment in terms of family commitment, hard work and community spirit is just a snapshot of how agriculture and agricultural families continue to shape our nation's future.