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Facts and Statistics
General Information on the fresh produce industry and the issues that pertain to members of the Western Growers:
Western Growers
- There are nearly 3,000 Western Growers members across California and Arizona.
- Members are growers of fresh produce, or "specialty crops", which consist of fresh fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, celery, oranges, cauliflower, bell peppers, melons, strawberries, squash, bok choy, avocados, lemons, grapefruit, and cabbage, just to name a few
- Western Growers is more than just a lobbying organzation; we also offer our members other services such as media training, health benefits, workers compensation, life insurance, legal services, video training, payroll and tax preparation services, employee training, an employee assistance program, crop insurance, general business services, and financial services.
- About 85 percent of members offer health insurance benefits to their farm workers.
Fresh Produce Industry
- Americans spend $165 on fresh produce every year, which equates to more than 300 pounds of fruit per year.
- In 2003, the fresh produce industry commanded a 54% controlling share of the U.S. specialty crop industry, representing $28.4 Billion in cash receipts.
- The top five fruit, vegetable or nut commodities produced in the U.S. are grapes, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes and almonds.
- The specialty crop industry is growing exponentially with the emphasis on nutrition, obesity and organically grown produce at a faster rate than program crops, but receives no annual subsidies. Over the past three decades per capita consumption has soared for fresh fruits (25%), fresh vegetables (30%) and nuts (60%). (Source: University of California Agricultural Issues Center)
California
- California agriculture is a $27.6 billion industry that produces 350 crop and livestock commodities. The industry generates an estimated $100 billion in related economic activity. Vegetables account for $6.13 billion and fruits and nuts for $7.14 billion. Another $3.86 billion accounts for field crops and farm-related income*
- California agriculture accounts for 1.1 million jobs, or about 7.4 percent*
- California is the top U.S. specialty crop producer, followed by Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Texas.
- Fruits, vegetables and nuts have the greatest impact of any commodity group on California’s economy. (Source: Jose Bervejillo, University of California Agricultural Issues Center)
- California produces $19.6 Billion of the total U.S. specialty crop production value, representing 37 percent.
- Tulare County is the state's top agricultural county, with oranges as one its leading commodities*
- California produces 99 percent or more of the following specialty crops: almonds, artichokes, clingstone peaches, dates, figs, kiwifruit, nectarines, olives, persimmons, pistachios, plums, dried (prunes), raisins and walnuts.*
- California is the nation's leading agricultural exporter. Between 16-19 percent of California's agricultural production is exported to international markets annually, totaling more than $6.5 billion*
- The number one export is almonds*
*Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Arizona
- Agriculture is a $6.3 billion industry in Arizona. Arizona's agriculture contributes nearly **
- There are 7,500 farms and ranches in Arizona, with an average size of 4,739 acres.
- The state's total farmland is 26,870,000 acres with irrigated crops on 1,280,000 acres.
- Arizona’s top fresh produce commodity is lettuce with $356 million in cash receipts for 2003, which has rapidly exploded to $590 million in 2004, followed by cantaloupes, broccoli, cauliflower and watermelons.
- In 2004, broccoli and cauliflower also experienced explosive growth in production value, 25% for cauliflower ($40 million) and 27% for broccoli ($50.9 million).
- Arizona ranks #4 in the production of oranges in the U.S., with cash receipts of $2 million in 2003.
- Arizona ranks second nationally in its production of cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Arizona is fifth in the production of watermelon.
**Source: University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
Immigration
- There are 884,000 farm workers in the United States, with 122,850 in California.
Western Growers Facts and Statistics on Specialty Crops (.pdf file)
Links to Other Sources:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Arizona Department of Agriculture
For more information, call Western Growers at 949-863-1000.
Click here to learn more about Western Growers and our industry.
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