The 2012 gross value of all agricultural commodities produced in Kern County was $6,212,362, the county’s ag commissioner announced this week. This represents an increase (11%) from the revised 2011 crop value ($5,596,975,600).
The top five commodities for 2012 were Grapes, Almonds, Milk, Citrus and Pistachios, which make up more than $4 Billion (65%) of the total and with the top twenty commodities making up more than 92% of the total.
The $6.212 billion edges out Tulare County at $6.210 billion in 2012 with Fresno County still in the lead at $6.58 billion, all announced in the past few weeks.
Kern’s fruit and nut crops were up around $550 million in 2012 over 2011 while feed crop values fell as did milk.
Big plantings of nut crops are boosting values with pistachios totaling nearly 75,000 acres now. Also enjoying a boom are pomegranates with some 16,370 acres planted – 2000 of those acres just last year.