Every season in California brings a bounty of incredible crops, but fall harvest season is particularly special, both symbolically because it marks the changing of the seasons and literally because it includes many of the fruits and vegetables that California leads the nation in producing, including artichokes, berries, figs, kiwifruit, lemons, melons, nectarines, oranges, peaches, persimmons, plums, pomegranates, table grapes, pumpkins, turnips, squash, beets, celery and more.
It’s an incredible bounty, particularly for what is a majority urban-suburban rather than rural state.
The Golden State’s total land area covers about 104,765 acres. A small percentage of that land mass, around 28 million acres, is used to commercially grow food. California, which is the top agricultural production state in the U.S and the fifth-largest producing region in the world, feeds the nation and the world utilizing this small percentage of the state’s total land mass.
Harvest comes from the Old English word for autumn (or fall), Haerfest, and means to reap, gather and store what has been grown. This season – fall harvest – is associated with abundance and joy as it is the culmination of many months of hard work.
Because food and farming has been globalized through international trade (import and export), seasonality has become less important than in the past – you can get asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, mangos and more all-year-long because they’re easily imported from Mexico and elsewhere, for example – in the minds of consumers and in the business of food. As such, fall harvest in California has become less of an economic and celebratory event than it once was. (Some of you reading this will recall when the fruits and vegetables mentioned above were only available seasonally, for example.)
I think it’s time to reverse this trend though and to use the fall harvest season as a way to promote California agriculture in a big way. This October through December focus needs to be organized in a way that’s designed to remind Californians, Americans and the world of just how significant of an agricultural state California is.
We also need to celebrate and communicate what a resilient agriculture state California is. Over the last few years we’ve had drought, fires, a major pandemic, floods, inflation and more – and California agriculture not only has survived them all but has come out stronger than ever.
California remains the top-producing food and fiber state in the nation and it’s the fifth-largest agricultural producing region in the world. Incredible.
California is also the leading dairy-producing state in the nation and tops the U.S. in wine production, along with being the fourth-largest wine producing region in the world, after the nations of Italy, France and Spain. When it comes to wine, along with many other things, the Golden State is a nation state.
The Golden State is also one of the top states nationally for livestock and poultry production.
California is the most diverse farming region in the world. It produces more than 400 crops.
According to the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the estimated market value of California agricultural products is around $60 billion, up $13.8 billion from 2017. That’s a phenomenal eight year growth rate even if there had not been drought, fires and pandemic.
California is also the leading producer of organic crops in the U.S., with over $15 billion in annual sales. The state is also the leading innovator nationally when it comes to organic farming and the commercialization of organic crops.
This is the objective data – the theory of the case perhaps – that defines the greatness of California agriculture and the state’s farmers. But sadly, most Americans, including most Californians, aren’t aware of what a truly incredible agricultural state California is. For example, when I walk people through a supermarket produce department and point out to them how empty of fresh produce it would be were it not for California farmers and agriculture, nearly all are surprised and amazed.
We need to better tell the story of California agriculture and its importance to the state, the nation and the world.
Here’s the start of the telling of the story.
The fall harvest in California is special for several reasons, tied to the state’s diverse agricultural offerings, unique climate, and cultural significance:
Diverse Crops
California is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the U.S., and fall is when some of its most iconic crops are harvested. The state’s Mediterranean climate allows for an extended growing season, so fall is the peak time for a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, such as:
- Grapes (for wine): California’s vineyards, especially in Napa Valley and Sonoma, are famous for their fall grape harvest, which coincides with the wine-making season.
- Almonds and walnuts: These nuts are a major export, and their harvest typically occurs in late summer through fall.
- Pumpkins and squash: These are signature fall crops, associated with the season’s festivals and holidays.
- Citrus fruits: Early varieties of oranges and mandarins are often ready to be picked in the fall.
- Persimmons and pomegranates: These unique fruits thrive in the fall season and are highly sought after.
Wine Grape Harvest
The fall is the prime time for California’s wine regions, where the grape harvest takes place during a period known as “the crush.” This season is not only about harvesting grapes but also the cultural celebrations that accompany it, including wine festivals, tastings, and harvest parties.
Farm-to-Table Movement
California’s farm-to-table culture is especially vibrant in the fall. Farmers’ markets are abundant, and local chefs often feature seasonal ingredients at the height of their freshness. Restaurants across the state offer special menus that highlight the best fall harvest produce.
Fall Festivals and Cultural Significance
Fall in California brings a variety of harvest festivals celebrating the region’s agricultural bounty. These include:
- Apple festivals in regions like Sebastopol and Julian.
- Pumpkin festivals in Half Moon Bay and other areas.
- Grape stomps and wine festivals in wine-growing areas.
These events draw people from across the country, adding a festive spirit to the harvest season.
Ideal Climate for Agriculture
California’s mild fall weather extends the growing season and provides ideal conditions for harvesting. The combination of cool nights and warm days helps fruits like grapes and apples develop their flavors fully.
Sustainability Practices
California’s fall harvest is often linked with the state’s leadership in sustainable farming practices. Organic farms, drought-resistant techniques, and innovative water management are crucial to ensuring the long-term success of the harvest, given the state’s ongoing environmental challenges.
This combination of climate, crop diversity, cultural significance, and sustainable practices makes California’s fall harvest a unique and celebrated event.
Touting California Agriculture
It’s up to all of us involved in California agriculture to tell this story. The fall harvest season, which features Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, is the perfect time for all of us to renew our efforts to keep California the permanent food and farm state in the nation. This isn’t guaranteed after all.
It’s also an election year and while the cost of food at the grocery store has emerged as a major issue, farming and agriculture – what it takes to get that food from the ground to the grocery store – isn’t. Congress can’t even produce a new farm bill, which is long overdue. I haven’t heard either presidential candidate even discuss it.
Meanwhile, the fall harvest in California promises to produce a bounty. In order to keep that bounty coming we all need to support farmers and redouble our efforts to better tell the amazing story that is California agriculture.
My Job Depends on Ag Magazine columnist and contributing editor Victor Martino is an agrifood industry consultant, entrepreneur and writer. One of his passions and current projects is working with farmers who want to develop their own branded food products. You can contact him at: victormartino415@gmail.com.
