Fresno County reclaims its spot as country’s top agriculture producer

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno County has reclaimed its spot as the nation’s top agricultural producer despite “extraordinarily difficult” circumstances.

According to the Fresno County Farm Bureau’s (FCFB) 2024 Crop and Livestock Report, the county produced $9,029,122,000 in total gross production in 2024.

That’s $486.6 million more than the previous year, $685 million more than this year’s runner-up, Tulare County, and $1 billion more than last year’s reigning champ, Kern County.

Over half of the profits came strictly from fruits and nuts. Almonds came out on top, bringing in $1,458,370,000, followed by grapes in a close second at $1,042,137,000 and pistachios in third at $859,151,000.

The farm bureau says the county’s profits are projected to be much higher than $9 billion, though. According to the bureau, multiplier effects from the buy-sell relationships that farm production has with the local economy could bring in billions of dollars in additional revenue. They say last year’s $8.6 billion agricultural output contributed a total of $21.7 billion to the county economy.

Despite these record-breaking numbers, however, the farm bureau says the season was “extraordinarily difficult.”

“While the public may see this record-breaking number as a reflection of the health of our local agricultural community, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen. “The past four years have been extraordinarily difficult for most local farmers due to a combination of stressors — including lower-than-average market prices, rising input costs, higher interest rates, and more.”

How did they do it? Jacobsen thanks hard work and water.

“Food grows where water flows, and 2024 was a good water year for our county, allowing farmers to grow the full rainbow of crops that we are capable of here,” he said.

In total, the county was able to produce over 300 different commodities that feed more than 91 countries around the world. To read the full report, click here.