The farms in San Diego County generated more green last year. The county’s crops were valued at more than $1.5 billion in 2008.
Avocados, cut flowers and eggs were among the crops that increased in value compared to 2007. Indoor flowering and foliage plants remained the highest valued crops in the county at $319 million. Bob Atkins, the county’s agriculture commissioner, said San Diego farmers generate a lot of money from their locally grown crops.
“They have to be transported, packed, handled, shipped, sold at wholesale and retail. So, generally, it’s figured at about a 3 percent multiplier on the value of the raw products. So you’re looking at something about $4.5 billion net effect to San Diego County,” he said.
Atkins says there are a lot of factors that contributed to the increase in value including more people staying home to cook dinner.
