Explore California agriculture and learn what makes it unique.
In terms of farm income, California leads all other U.S. states and produces the largest variety of commodities in the nation. It is only one of five agricultural regions in the world with a Mediterranean-growing climate that allows farmers to grow such a large variety of crops, including some that aren’t grown anywhere else in the nation. California produces the vast majority of specialty crops such as almonds, walnuts, apricots, dates, and figs grown in the U.S. and in some cases, the world. The state is host to an impressive 70,521 farms with an average size of 348 acres spread across a total of 24,522,801 acres of farmland.
6.0%
3.9%
152.6%
6.03%
Average Annual Returns
Cumulative Returns of Farmland
Source: NCREIF
Past performance does not guarantee future results and there is no guarantee this trend will continue. For illustrative purposes only and is not intended to represent the result of an actual investment. All investments involve risk, including the loss of principal. Click here for AcreTrader General Disclosures.
3.9%
Standard Deviation of Returns
Year Over Year Change (%)
Source: NCREIF
| Year | Total Return | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| 2009 | -2.0% | 2.7% |
| 2010 | -1.7% | 0.9% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | 5.8% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | 12.0% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | 20.6% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | 28.8% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | 40.5% |
| 2016 | 5.6% | 48.4% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | 58.8% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | 70.7% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | 85.5% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | 92.9% |
| 2021 | 9.8% | 111.8% |
| 2022 | 13.3% | 140.1% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | 152.6% |