Grown Where

San Diego County, California · 2022 Census of Agriculture

What does San Diego County, California grow?

Of the crops tracked here, San Diego County's biggest by acreage are avocados (11,013 acres), oranges (2,360 acres) and lemons (1,576 acres). Its farms sold $1.1 billion of crops and livestock in 2022, 15th of 56 counties in California.

Among US counties with published figures, it ranks near the top for avocados (2nd of 35 counties), lemons (8th of 52 counties) and grapefruit (10th of 37 counties).

Farm sales, 2022
$1.1 billion46th of 3,050 US counties
Farms
4,031179,330 acres of farmland
Crops vs. livestock
92% cropsshare of farm sales
Items reported
6655 published, 10 withheld, 1 under half a unit
Value of crops and livestock sold by county, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Under $14M$14M to $56M$56M to $210M$210M to $700M$700M to $2.1B$2.1B+
Withheld to protect individual farms
San Diego County
$1.1 billion
2% of California farm sales. No. 15 of 56 counties with published figures.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture.

What does San Diego County grow the most of?

Crops ranked by acres harvested (bearing acres for orchards), 2022 Census of Agriculture.

  1. 1Avocados2nd in California11,013 acres
  2. 2Oranges5th in California*2,360 acres
  3. 3Lemons7th in California*1,576 acres
  4. 4Hay48th in California*1,123 acres
  5. 5Tomatoes15th in California*1,032 acres
  6. 6Grapes25th in California*970 acres
  7. 7Grapefruit5th in California*752 acres
  8. 8Blueberries3rd in California*314 acres
  9. 9Apples7th in California*243 acres
  10. 10Tangerines9th in California*222 acres

How does San Diego County rank?

Each item's rank among counties in California and in the US, by the 2022 Census of Agriculture measure shown. An asterisk means the rank is among counties with published figures; a county whose figure is withheld could rank higher.

San Diego County rankings, 2022 Census of Agriculture, top 15 by share of CA
ItemAmountState rankUS rankShare of CAMeasure
Macadamia nuts66 acres11*74%bearing acres
Avocados11,013 acres22*24%bearing acres
Eggs1.1 million laying hens4*36*8%head on farms
Grapefruit752 acres5*10*8%bearing acres
Pumpkins186 acres6*80*4%acres harvested
Honey1.1 million pounds826*4%production
Apples243 acres7*98*3%bearing acres
Lemons1,576 acres7*8*3%bearing acres
Goats1,909 goats19*216*2%head on farms
Oranges2,360 acres5*18*1%bearing acres
Chile peppers45 acres9*35*1%acres harvested
Squash43 acres19*148*under 1%acres harvested
Pears54 acres5*22*under 1%bearing acres
Figs30 acres3*3*under 1%bearing acres
Tomatoes1,032 acres15*26*under 1%acres harvested
Show all 55 items
San Diego County rankings, items 16 to 55
ItemAmountState rankUS rankShare of CAMeasure
Watermelon52 acres12*139*under 1%acres harvested
Green peas11 acres8*102*under 1%acres harvested
Milk5,505 milk cows16*292*under 1%head on farms
Collard greens4 acres5*103*under 1%acres harvested
Tangerines222 acres9*14*under 1%bearing acres
Bell peppers35 acres15*73*under 1%acres harvested
Cattle14,656 cattle361,520*under 1%head on farms
Blackberries10 acres10*101*under 1%bearing acres
Cucumbers17 acres10*134*under 1%acres harvested
Kale18 acres13*37*under 1%acres harvested
Green beans14 acres13*201*under 1%acres harvested
Sheep958 sheep33*961*under 1%head on farms
Pomegranates54 acres7*7*under 1%bearing acres
Olives69 acres21*23*under 1%bearing acres
Apricots7 acres15*30*under 1%bearing acres
Grapes970 acres25*55*under 1%bearing acres
Cabbage20 acres12*71*under 1%acres harvested
Cantaloupe32 acres14*62*under 1%acres harvested
Strawberries51 acres7*31*under 1%bearing acres
Raspberries6 acres9*109*under 1%bearing acres
Corn4,950 bushels18*2,192*under 1%production
Peaches26 acres16*156*under 1%bearing acres
Carrots40 acres12*34*under 1%acres harvested
Potatoes12 acres11*273*under 1%acres harvested
Cauliflower15 acres13*34*under 1%acres harvested
Nectarines5 acres8*29*under 1%bearing acres
Turkeys581 turkeys4*214*under 1%head on farms
Hay2,122 tons48*2,784*under 1%production
Garlic7 acres14*83*under 1%acres harvested
Lettuce67 acres17*34*under 1%acres harvested
Spinach11 acres9*42*under 1%acres harvested
Celery7 acres9*18*under 1%acres harvested
Onions10 acres14*79*under 1%acres harvested
Broccoli18 acres14*45*under 1%acres harvested
Plums6 acres15*64*under 1%bearing acres
Honeydew1 acre18*69*under 1%acres harvested
Chickens25,161 broiler chickens7*512*under 1%head sold
Sweet potatoes1 acre7*215*under 1%acres harvested
Sweet cherries1 acre22*145*under 1%bearing acres
Blueberries314 acres3*35*bearing acres

Also reported here, but withheld by NASS to protect individual farms: barley, dry beans, sweet corn, Brussels sprouts, dates, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios and hogs.

Reported at less than half a unit (for example, under half an acre): artichokes.

What livestock does San Diego County raise?

San Diego County livestock and poultry, 2022 Census of Agriculture
AnimalHeadState rankMeasure
Laying hens1,094,3184*head on farms
Broiler chickens25,1617*head sold
Cattle14,65636head on farms
Milk cows5,50516*head on farms
Goats1,90919*head on farms
Sheep95833*head on farms
Turkeys5814*head on farms

Other farm counties in California

Top California counties by farm sales, 2022
CountyFarm sales
Fresno County$7 billion
Tulare County$6.4 billion
Monterey County$5.5 billion
Kern County$5 billion
Merced County$4 billion
Imperial County$3 billion
San Joaquin County$3 billion
Stanislaus County$2.9 billion
Santa Barbara County$2.6 billion
Kings County$2.1 billion
Ventura County$2.1 billion
Madera County$2 billion

What does California grow? State overview and county map →

About this data

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture, the only NASS source that covers every county. The Census is taken every five years; the next is for 2027. Values NASS withholds to avoid disclosing individual farms are shown as withheld, never as zero. Data processed 2026-11-06. Methodology.