The value of grapes helped push Fresno County ag values to a record $8.6 billion, according to the 2023 Fresno County Crop Report. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)
- Grapes helped push Fresno County ag values to their highest ever, increasing by 6% to $8.6 billion.
- Pistachios and almonds have struggled in the past couple of years with high input costs and lower prices.
- Table grapes' strong year offset losses on the wine side.
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Fresno County’s crops brought in a record $8.6 billion in 2023 with grapes holding the top spot for the second year after displacing almonds, which continue to decline.
“Although individual commodities may experience difficulties from year to year, Fresno County continues to supply the highest quality of food and fiber nationwide and abroad to more than 90 countries around the world,” said Melissa Cregan, Fresno County ag commissioner in the 2023 Crop Report.
No Wrath From These Grapes
Kern County and Tulare County crop reports have yet to come out, so those following the three-way competition between the farming giants have to wait to see who will herald the spot for top ag county in the nation. But Fresno County is off to a good start.
The Fresno County Department of Agriculture measured a sharp 6.1% increase in ag values from 2022.
Grapes experienced a return to the head of the table as the county’s premiere crop. For years, the price of almonds pushed the nut well beyond the raisins, wine, and table grapes coming off the vine.
But consumers’ appetite for fresh table grapes made up for losses on the wine side. A significant rise in values made up for a small drop in acreage, pushing table grape values up nearly $100 million to $743.8 million.
Related Story: California Wine Squeezed Dry: What Does It Mean for Valley Grape Growers?
Raisins also experienced a modest increase. The two sub-categories made up for losses in wine. Across the state, winemakers are in a panic about inability to sell their product. Experts have predicted many acres in the San Joaquin Valley may need to be pulled up for the market to reach a balance.
Wine grape acreage decreased by 7% from 2022 to 2023, going to 50,760 acres last year.
Prices Are ‘Nuts’
For the first time in years, the ag department valued the county’s almond crop below $1 billion. However, almond byproducts — namely the hulls — pushed the nut just beyond the billion mark. High input costs, especially with water, have harried growers as have collapsing values.
In February, Trinitas Farming LLC, one of the largest almond growers in California, filed for bankruptcy. Even with strong water rights, the hedge fund subsidiary could not make enough of a profit with the nut.
Related Story: One of CA’s ‘Largest Almond Growers’ Files for Bankruptcy. It ...
The ag department noted an increase in acreage from 2022 to 2023 and an increase in price per ton, but decreased productivity offset gains, resulting in almond values at just under $950 million. With hulls, almonds came in at $1 billion.
Increased pistachio acreage and strong production numbers offset lower prices, grossing $861 million for the nut, up 25% the year before. Like almonds, pistachio prices have been falling.
Earlier this year, pistachio prices opened at the lowest price in 10 years, according to Charlotte Avila, senior director of sales at Touchstone Pistachios.
The price later stabilized, but the initial price scared growers. The 2023 crop is expected to set a record.
Other crops of note: blueberry production per acre doubled, increasing crop values 42% from the year before.
Cherry production nearly tripled, pushing the value up 173% to $95.9 million.
(Disclosure: GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi is a partner in Touchstone Pistachios.)
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