Santa Barbara County agriculture brought in $1.9 billion last year. These were the top crops

Strawberries remained Santa Barbara County’s top grossing crop in 2021, with the overall value of agricultural production in the county climbing to $1.9 billion, a 5.1% increase from the previous year, according to the county Agricultural Commissioner’s Office annual crop report.

As the leading crop in agricultural revenue in the county, strawberries brought in $849.7 million last year compared to $727 million in revenue in 2020.

Nursery products — including cut flowers, nursery plants and potted plants — jumped from the fourth to the second most popular product of the year, raking in $119 million, making up 8% of the county’s gross production.

This is a $20.5 million increase compared to the previous year.

Wine grapes moved up from the fifth to the third largest contributor of revenue in the county at $105 million, compared to $93 million in 2020.

Broccoli revenue went from the third to the fourth largest contributor of revenue compared to the previous year — at $104 million in 2020, compared to $101 million in 2021.

Cauliflower went from the second largest contributor in 2020 at $109 million to the fifth largest in 2021 at $80 million.

Leaf lettuce made $75.8 million in revenue and head lettuce made $74 million in 2021. The salad greens were the sixth and seventh largest revenue streamers for agriculture in the county, respectively.

Blackberries went from the 10th biggest contributor in 2020 to the eighth biggest contributor, making $65.49 million in 2021.

Celery was the ninth largest contributor to revenue in 2021 at $62 million. Avocados were the 10th largest contributor to revenue at $50 million,

Fruit and nuts products make up 53% of the revenue brought in by agricultural products in the county. Last year, fruit and nuts made 50% of the revenue.

In a five-year comparison, combined fruit and nut crops have remained the highest grossing commodity. In 2017, fruit and nuts made up $605 million. In 2021, they made just over $1 billion.

The county exported 6,447 shipments of its products to 42 countries across the world, including China, Colombia, South Korea and the Philippines.

The countries to which Santa Barbara County sent the most exports were Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The top export was 9,591 tons of cucumbers to Canada.

According to the report, in general, U.S. food prices have risen but U.S. food producers are not making as much for their products.

“While rising wholesale and retail food prices and some temporarily empty shelves drew a lot of public attention and stoked fears over availability and affordability of our food, the severe impacts of the crisis on U.S. farmers have been much less visible,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture wrote in an article published in the report.

The COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect the global supply chain in 2021, with challenges such as a shortage of shipping containers, and increased demand for durable goods. Agriculture has also struggled with a shortage of truck drivers since before the pandemic.

The Santa Barbara County Department of Cannabis Control approved legislation that will improve access to licensing. In 2021 the DCC issued over 1,500 licenses representing 280 acres in the county for the production of cannabis.

Cannabis is not included in the total gross production value for the county.

There were 174 organic farms registered in Santa Barbara County that covered more than 12,000 acres in 2021.

The county has 10 certified farmers’ markets and more than 100 certified producers. California has approximately 750 certified organic farmer’s markets.