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California is the leading agricultural state in the nation producing more than 400 commodities, with a value of more than $37 billion. Many of the crops grown are fruits and tree nuts, vegetables, herbs and spices, flowers, and horticulture crops which are recognized as specialty crops by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Specialty crops make up a majority of the commodities grown in California — $23 billion worth! You can say that California is pretty special!


Top 3 Commodities Specialty crops are bold


Alameda Winegrapes, Woody Ornamentals, Cattle & Calves


Alpine Cattle & Calves, Pasture & Range, Pasture


Amador Winegrapes, Cattle & Calves, Pasture & Range


Butte Rice, Walnuts, Almonds


Calaveras Cattle & Calves, Poultry, Pasture & Range


Colusa Rice, Almonds, Vegetable Seeds


Contra Costa Cattle & Calves, Sweet Corn, Vegetable Crops


 Del Norte Cows, Milk, Lily Bulbs


El Dorado Apples, Cattle & Calves, Winegrapes


Fresno Almonds, Poultry, Raisin Grapes


Glenn Rice, Almonds, Walnuts


Humboldt Timber, Nursery Products, Milk


Imperial Steers & Heifers, Leaf Lettuce, Alfalfa Hay  


Inyo Steers, Heifers, Alfalfa Hay


Kern Almonds, Table Grapes, Pistachios


Kings Milk, Cotton, Processing Tomatoes


Lake Winegrapes, Bartlett Pears, Nursery Products


Lassen Hay, Alfalfa Hay, Strawberry Plants


Los Angeles Woody Ornamentals, Bedding Plants, Vegetable Crops


 Madera Almonds, Pistachios, Milk  


Marin Milk, Cattle & Calves, Poultry


Mariposa Cattle & Calves, Pasture & Range, Livestock Products


Mendocino Winegrapes, Timber, Bartlett Pears


Merced Milk, Almonds, Broiler Chickens


Modoc Alfalfa Hay, Cattle & Calves, Potatoes


Mono Alfalfa Hay, Stockers & Feeders, Steers


Monterey Strawberries, Head Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce


Napa Winegrapes, Cattle & Calves, Nursery Products


Nevada Cattle, Pasture, Pasture & Range


Orange Woody Ornamentals, Strawberries, Vegetable Crops


Placer Rice, Cattle & Calves, Nursery Products


Plumas Stockers & Feeders, Timber, Pasture


Riverside Milk, Woody Ornamentals, Table Grapes


Sacramento Winegrapes, Milk, Bartlett Pears


San Benito Vegetable Crops, Salad Lettuce, Bell Peppers


San Bernardino Milk, Eggs, Milk Cows


San Diego Woody Ornamentals, Foliage Plants, Bedding Plants


San Francisco Cut Flowers, Alfalfa & Bean Sprouts


San Joaquin Milk, Winegrapes, Walnuts


San Luis Obispo Winegrapes, Strawberries, Broccoli


San Mateo Potted Plants, Nursery Products, Brussels Sprouts


Santa Barbara Strawberries, Broccoli, Vegetable Crops


Santa Clara Mushrooms, Bedding Plants, Nursery Products


Santa Cruz Strawberries, Raspberries, Cut Flowers


Shasta Forest Products, Timber, Hay


Sierra Stockers & Feeders, Timber, Pasture


Siskiyou Strawberry Plants, Alfalfa Hay, Timber


Solano Processing Tomatoes, Walnuts, Vegetable Crops  


Sonoma Winegrapes, Milk, Poultry  


Stanislaus Milk, Almonds, Chickens


Sutter Rice, Walnuts, Dried Plums


Tehama Walnuts, Almonds, Olives


Trinity Firewood, Timber, Cattle & Calves


Tulare Milk, Navel Oranges, Cattle & Calves


Tuolumne Livestock, Cattle & Calves, Pasture & Range


Ventura Strawberries, Celery, Lemons


Yolo Processing Tomatoes, Rice, Winegrapes


Yuba Rice, Walnuts, Dried Plums


 


On the map, locate and label major lakes, rivers, mountains, and deserts. Identify the four climate regions (Mountain, Central Valley, Pacific, Desert). Include a map legend and compass. Identify the top four crops grown in each region and write them in the chart.


Hint: Count how many times a commodity is listed in that region. Some counties span multiple regions and the commodity will be counted more than once.


Climate region:


___________________________________________ The top four crops grown:


1. __________________ 3. __________________


Climate region:


___________________________________________ The top four crops grown:


1. __________________ 3. __________________


2. ___________________ 4. ___________________


2. ___________________ 4. ___________________


Climate region:


___________________________________________ The top four crops grown:


1. __________________ 3. __________________


2. ___________________ 4. ___________________


Climate region:


___________________________________________ The top four crops grown:


1. __________________ 3. __________________


2. ___________________ 4. ___________________


Standards: History-Social Science – Grade 3: 3.1.1; Grade 4: 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5; Science – Grade 6: 2.a, 2.b Milk and Cream Grapes, All


Which of California’s top 20 commodities are specialty crops? Circle those that are specialty crops. What is their combined value? What percent of the top 20 are specialty crops?


Standards: Mathematics – Grade 5: Number Sense 1.1, 1.2; Grade 6: Number Sense: 2.1, 2.3; Grade 7: Mathematical Reasoning 2.1


What makes California able to produce so many different commodities? One reason is the climate: California has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers that provide optimal conditions to grow specialty crops. California also has many micro-climates that allow farmers to grow specific crops in certain areas.


In the local newspaper, check the weather section. On a chart, record the daily temperature for a week. From the chart calculate the mean, mode, and median. Make a graph of the daily temperatures.


Standards: Mathematics – Grade 4: Statistics 1.1; Grade 5: Statistics & Probability 1.2


Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov


In the Know 'bout H20
Most rainfall and water is in Northern California. It is transported to the Central Valley and Southern California by the California Aqueduct.




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