SAN DIEGO — The total value of San Diego County's agricultural products dropped nearly $120 million from 2022, owing largely to last winter's storms, flooding and mudslides, according to the 2023 annual Crop Report released Friday.
Total production exceeded $1.66 billion, with Bedding Plants, Color, Perennials, Cacti & Succulents topping the list for the third consecutive year. That subsection accounted for $396,623,341, or 24% of the region's total, but also represented the majority of the $120 million drop in value, the report showed.
In second place was Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, valued at $383,114,393, or 23% of San Diego County's agricultural production value.
The county ranks sixth in the nation for the number of farms — 4,031, 94% of which are family farms — and the most small farms in California. Additionally, the county is tops in the state in nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod agriculture and the second in the United States, according to the report.
While the overall value of crops declined, some crops showed growth, such as field crops, apiary products and forest products.
Apiary products posted the largest year-over growth at 47%, including a 264% growth in honey and beeswax production caused by increased precipitation. Field crops also saw an increase of 14% over 2022, the report showed.
The categories of nursery and cut flower products, fruit and nut products, vegetable and vine crops and livestock and poultry all saw a decrease in value over the year.
Some highlights from the report include a major spike in apple production, an increase in the price of citrus causing modest growth, the decrease in the value of avocados and a 36% value growth in wine grapes.
Each year the county compiles the Crop Report and includes efforts by its Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures to keep potentially harmful invasive species out.
Last year, Agriculture, Weights and Measures inspectors stopped 20 snail and slug infestations and 121 plant diseases, the report reads. Trained dogs also detected thousands of packages shipping produce and plant life.
The January storms and a rainy winter overall led to an estimated $90 million in damages.
