Fresno County Farms Post Record $9 Billion Output, Driven by Nuts and Grapes
Fresno County agricultural production reached a record $9.0 billion in 2024, a 5.7% increase from 2023, with fruit and nut crops accounting for 55.6% of the total. The surge — led by almonds rebounding to more than $1.45 billion and grapes topping $1 billion — boosts local farm incomes and processing demand but officials warn price, input cost and water volatility remain serious concerns.
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Fresno County’s farm economy reached a new high in 2024, with total gross production value hitting a record $9.0 billion, County Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan told the Board of Supervisors. The 5.7% year-over-year increase was concentrated in fruit and nut crops, which made up 55.6% of the county’s agricultural output by value.
Almonds and grapes were principal drivers of the gain. Almond values rebounded to more than $1.45 billion, while grape production topped $1 billion, underscoring the county’s continued specialization in higher-value perennial crops. The report also notes that 82 separate commodities in Fresno County each generated more than $1 million in value, and that pistachios, cattle, milk and poultry posted strong showings in 2024.
For local residents, the record production value has several immediate economic effects. Higher farm revenue typically supports jobs in field labor, packing, transportation and food processing in Fresno County, as well as secondary spending in local retail and services. Agriculture taxes, landowner income and the prospects for investment in processing and storage infrastructure are also affected by the higher receipts.
Yet the upbeat figures come with caution. Officials warned that volatility in crop prices, rising input costs and water availability continue to pose risks to the county’s agricultural outlook. Price swings for export-dependent crops like almonds and grapes can quickly alter farmer revenues, while higher costs for fertilizer, fuel and labor compress margins even when gross values rise. Water supply uncertainty — from surface allocations to groundwater management and seasonal drought — remains a binding constraint for perennial orchards and vineyards that dominate Fresno’s acreage and value.
The data signal two longer-term trends that shape local economic policy choices. First, the concentration of value in fruit and nut crops increases short-term wealth generation but also raises sectoral exposure to single-commodity price movements and water risks. Second, the fact that 82 commodities each cleared $1 million indicates meaningful diversification beneath the headline concentration, with livestock and dairy supplements helping stabilize total output.
Policy implications for county leaders and state partners include strengthening water reliability through storage and conservation, expanding price-risk management resources for growers, and encouraging investment in local processing to capture more value locally. Maintaining labor availability and managing input-cost pressures will also be crucial to converting high production value into sustained employment and fiscal benefits for Fresno County.
As officials and growers weigh those trade-offs, the 2024 record provides both an economic boost and a reminder that resilient growth will depend on managing volatility in markets, costs and water over the coming years.
