Photo | Spring harvest in Watsonville strawberry fields

Workers toil in a strawberry field along West Riverside Drive in Watsonville this week. Strawberries remained Santa Cruz County's top crop in 2024, the last year for which data is available. According to the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commission's Crop Report, strawberries had an estimated gross production value of $218.9 million from 2,640 acres, representing an 18% value increase over 2023. The report noted that, "A long growing season and increased acreage drove this growth, with total berry crops-including raspberries and blackberries-making up 60% of the county's total agricultural value, which rose 13.3% to $741.9 million." The annual county crop report is typically published in October for the following year, and we will see the 2025 report later this year.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.