The Agricultural Importance of Southern California
Although it boasts a history of gold mining and helping to bring the railroad across the Sierra Nevada range, California is a land of diversity with a rich history in many different industries. Agriculture is major player in the California economy, and without a steady supply of migrant workers, heavy machinery movers Southern California companies employ, and great weather, much of the fruits, vegetable, and nuts enjoyed around the country would disappear. In fact, if California was considered a country, its agricultural supply would rank tenth in the world for the value of its goods and services.
The Rich History in Farming
In the late 16th century, what is now considered Los Angeles was nothing more than thousands of acres of productive farm land. Through an effort to colonize the land, Spain capitalized on the fertile soil, consistent solar presence, and the steady supply of water to create an agricultural community on the Western coast. Throughout the next decades and on into the new centuries, farmers began to experiment with the crops and introduced products like hemp, flowers, cotton, and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. In addition to plant materials, livestock investments flourished, equaling the output and quality of stockyards and ranches located in Omaha and Chicago. Hundreds of poultry and dairy ranches sprung up throughout the territory.
The Current Climate
California is still the agricultural powerhouse of the United States. They are the nation’s leading producer apricots, almonds, figs, dates, nectarines, kiwis, olives, walnuts, and prunes. While they lead in the production of lemons, avocados, melons, grapes, plums, peaches, and strawberries, Florida still outproduces the state in oranges. California also leads the way with crops like tomatoes and lettuce. It’s no wonder that California has introduced healthy food initiatives with its citizens.
The latest trends in organic eating and healthy living can only be accomplished by continued success in California’s agricultural industry. It didn’t get it’s “land of the fruits and nuts” nickname without a good reason.