The total value of San Diego County’s agricultural products dropped nearly $120 million from 2022, according to the 2023 annual Crop Report released Friday.
The losses largely are attributable to last winter’s storms, flooding and mudslides, analysts said. The largest of those storms, in January led a rainy winter that overall caused an estimated $90 million in damages.
Total production neared $1.66 billion. The subsection of bedding plants, color, perennials, cacti and succulents, topping the list for the third consecutive year, accounted for $396.6 million, or 24% of the region’s total.
That category, however, also represented the majority of the sharp drop in value, the report showed.
In second place was ornamental trees and shrubs, valued at $383.1 million, or 23% of the county’s agricultural production value.
The county ranks sixth in the nation for the number of farms – 4,031, 94% of which are family owned – and also has 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 U.S., according to the report.
While the overall value of crops declined, some areas showed growth, such as field crops, apiary products and forest products.
Apiary products posted the largest year-over-year growth at 47%. That includes 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 which led to 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 control or avoid harmful invasive species.
Last year, Agriculture, Weights and Measures inspectors workd on stopping 20 snail and slug infestations and 121 plant diseases. Trained dogs also detected thousands of packages shipping produce and plant life.