Chapter 15: California

Knowing that California has the highest farm income in the United Sates, it is notable to recognize what San Francisco offers in the food market. Twenty million tons of food a year are produced within the 100 mile range of San Francisco. This includes more than 80 different crops and livestock products. The agriculture in this area bring in about $10 billion a year, which is more than a quarter of California's total agricultural income margin. The only major food group that is not produced with abundance relatively in the region is the grain, accounting for only four percent of the total production value. However most of the agricultural production does not come from the immediate Bay Area, but from the valleys beyond such area. The Bay Area however account fro about 14% of the total agricultural production. One-third of that comes from the valuable wine grape crops in Napa and Sonoma Counties.

The vineyards of Napa Valley

Organic food production in the San Francisco is a small fraction of the total agricultural output. However, it takes up a significant percentage of direct-to consumer sales. The sales of organic food grew at an average annual rate of 18.6%.

It is interesting to note that the a great deal of what is produced in the area is not consumed in San Francisco or the entire 100 mile radius of the city. About 40% of California's agricultural production is actually exported to the rest of the country or oversea. Whereas, about a quarter of the food consumed in the state is actually imported from outside the Country. Therefore, San Francisco is known to export most of its production the area than domestically consume.

source:
http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/ca/Feature%20Stories/documents/Chap_1_foodshed.pdf

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