Crop report shows raspberry production surging

A pair of field workers use hoes to thin a young lettuce crop on a farm on Beach Road Monday. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian)

WATSONVILLE — Although strawberries still reign supreme over Pajaro Valley agriculture, raspberries have the number two spot and last year helped grow the crop total by more than $30 million, according to the annual Santa Cruz County Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report, released Monday.

According to the report, the total gross production value for 2011 was $565.7 million, up $33 million from the year before.

Similarly, the county increased its total gross production from 2009 to 2010 by more than $40 million, showing a trend of annual value increases that has largely continued since 2001.

Strawberries brought in $198.2 million in 2011, a slight increase of $1 million from the year before. Raspberries, on the other hand, earned $132.4 million, which showed a $40 million increase from 2010.

That is thanks largely to increased acreage, according to Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner Mary Lou Nicoletti.



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