Monterey County Farm Bureau

Economy

The Monterey County economy is built around a $4.0 billion dollar agricultural sector and a $1.76 billion dollar tourism sector.  The farm, food manufacturing and leisure/hospitality industries account for almost half of all jobs in Monterey County.

Agriculture represents 15% more of Monterey county’s economic output than it does for the whole United States economy.  Monterey County's agriculture sector is among the most productive in the world.

The 2011 Monterey County Crop Report reported agricultural production of nearly $4 billion for Monterey County, with a total ecomonic impact of over $8.2 billion.

“It is always important to note that production figures ... are gross values and do not reflect net profit or loss experienced by individual growers, or by the industry as a whole.

Growers do not have control on most input costs, such as fuel, fertilizers, and packaging, nor can they significantly affect market prices.  The fact that the gross value of agriculture is holidng steady reflects positively on the diversity and importance of our agricultural industry.  Monterey County has 26 crops with a value greater than $10 million and 11 crops with a value of more than $100 million.”

- Eric Lauritzen, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner from the 2010 Monterey County Crop Report

Relative Agricultural Productivity

Average Agricultural Output per Employee

Monterey County

$183,331

United States

$43,177

(Monterey County: DRI-WEFA; US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

High-value agricultural products (wine grapes and vegetables command higher prices on the world's commodity markets than grains or soybeans) and added value to products accounts for much of this productivity.  By applying innovations in processing and packaging, agriculture has captured new markets.

This information was provided by Monterey County Business Portal

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