MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s agricultural production value declined 3% in 2025 from the previous year’s record, totaling $4.82 billion as growers navigated fluctuating tariffs, rising production costs and shifting market conditions, according to the county’s annual Crop and Livestock Report released last week.
The report, presented by Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo, found the county’s gross agricultural production value reached $4,822,429,000 in 2025, down from 2024. The figures represent gross values of agricultural commodities and do not account for growers’ production, labor, regulatory or other operating costs.
“Every year our diverse range of commodities are affected by numerous influences, including market demand, production challenges, labor availability, weather conditions and many others,” Hidalgo wrote in the report’s introduction. “2025 was characterized by fluctuating tariffs impacting export of commodities and higher cost of production to our growers from increased costs to farm machinery and fertilizers produced in other nations.”
Despite the overall decline, strawberries retained their position as Monterey County’s most valuable crop, increasing 3% to $1.07 billion. Leaf lettuce, including romaine and other varieties, rose 7% to just over $1 billion, while head lettuce ranked third at $583.7 million despite a 2% decline. Broccoli remained the county’s fourth most valuable commodity at $516 million, down 11%.
Combined, all lettuce varieties accounted for $1.58 billion, or 33% of the county’s total crop value, with Monterey County remaining the nation’s leading lettuce-producing county, according to the report.
Overall, the vegetable crops category declined 4% to $3.3 billion, while fruit and nuts slipped 1% to $1.25 billion. Wine grapes posted one of the steepest losses, falling 25% in value amid a second consecutive year of declining returns and a 20% drop in yields due to unharvested acreage.
Hidalgo said the 2025 growing season benefited from more typical weather conditions.
“The 2025 season was characterized by more normal weather patterns with moderate summer temperatures that led to a more typical, elongated growing season, similar to 2024,” he wrote. “Although market demand for the high value crops produced in our region remains high, decreases in planted acreage and value for some commodities led to overall decreases in gross production value over last year.”
The report also highlights 25 years of organic agriculture in Monterey County, noting that organic production now accounts for 18% of the county’s total agricultural value, up from $335.1 million in 2015 to $849.6 million in 2025.
“This year’s Crop and Livestock Report theme, ‘25 Years of Organics,’ highlights how organic agriculture has grown into a trusted, nationally regulated system defined by strong standards, transparency, and an enforcement framework that protects the organic label,” Hidalgo wrote.
Agricultural leaders said the report underscores both the industry’s resilience and its financial pressures.
“While a slight decline over the 2024 record year, farmgate values continue to show the resiliency due to the diversity of crops here in Monterey County,” said Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau.
Groot said increasing production costs continue to squeeze growers, citing a 2025 Farm Bureau study that found regulatory compliance now accounts for 13% of production costs, or roughly $1,600 per acre annually.
Christopher Valadez, president and CEO of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said the report reflects the strength of the county’s vegetable industry while illustrating the challenges producers continue to face.
“These results reflect the resiliency and adaptability of our members,” Valadez said. “The industry responded to current economic conditions with acreage adjustments in certain categories while delivering exceptional performance in our core strengths.”
Valadez also said the report demonstrates that gross production values alone do not capture the significant regulatory costs borne by growers, adding that “targeted regulatory relief, access to effective tools and recognition of real production economics are essential to keep the Central Coast thriving as the Salad Bowl of the World for generations to come.”
To view the 2025 County of Monterey Crop and Livestock Report, visit tinyurl.com/MCCropReport2025.
