Research commissioned by the Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA) has found that California's speciality crop industries have a major impact on the state's economy, generating some US$15.9bn annually or US$43.5m per day in what it calls 'ripple effect' business activity.
The study examined the financial impact of 15 Californian specialty crops including asparagus, avocados, cherries, figs, kiwifruit, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums and table grapes, with the aim of educating Californians on the importance of choosing locally grown products.
'The research clearly indicates that California's specialty crops touch every aspect of California life and positively impact the economic vitality of our state,' said Maile Shanahan Geis, BCMA executive director. 'Despite the challenges facing California agriculture – from intense global competition to the growing water crisis – the state's specialty crops prove that the industry continues to be a world leader in agriculture production, which is a title Californians should be proud to protect.'
A ripple effect created by expenditure across specialty crop growers spurred the growth of over 137,000 jobs, the report indicated, based on averages taken over a three-year span between 2005-2007.
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