Monterey County, California recorded a total fruit and vegetable production value of $4.8 billion in 2025, a 3% decline from the prior year, according to the county's official crop report released July 7. Strawberries remained the county's highest-value crop, increasing 3% to $1.069 billion.
Monterey County is the backbone of U.S. leafy green and vegetable production — Salinas Valley alone accounts for an outsized share of national romaine, spinach, and mixed greens supply. A 3% decline in total value, even as strawberries rose, points to softness somewhere in the vegetable categories that drives most of the county's output.
For buyers with heavy California vegetable programs, the annual crop report is a useful benchmark for understanding where the growing base is heading. A second consecutive year of value decline would be a more significant signal about long-term production trends.