CALIFORNIA
1.8 billion pounds of sweet potatoes were produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2007. North Carolina (667 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. It was followed by California (426 million pounds).
US Census Bureau, October, 2008
California produces about 21 percent of U.S. milk production each year.
California grows about 88% of U.S. strawberries. (USDA 2008)
According to the USDA 70% of the nation's head lettuce was produced in California in 2006.
California has more breweries in the U.S. than any other state (279 brewing companies in California in 2007).
California produced 998 million pounds of almonds in 2004. The largest crop on record was in 2002, with 1.084 billion pounds.
California accounted for 95% of processed tomato production in 2006. Florida and California combined accounted for 68% of total U.S. tomato production in the same year.
California led the U.S. in cabbage production in 2005 with 466 million pounds, New York was second with 456 million pounds.
Fallbrook, California is the Avocado Capital of the World. More avocados are grown there than any place else in the U.S.
Approximately 8% of Californians are vegetarians. (2003)
A popular demonstration at the 1922 Los Angeles County Fair was how to make toothpaste from orange by-products.
The Iron Door Saloon in Groveland is the oldest saloon in California. It was built in 1852.
The Coachella Valley is known as the Date Capital of the world.
California grows 99.5% of all dates grown in the United States, and Arizona produces the rest. (USDA 2004).
California grows over 300,000 tons of grapes each year.
California produces over 17 million gallons of wine each year.
California has more then 500,000 acres of wine grapes. (2005)
California accounts for more than 90% of U.S. wine production. (2004)
Fresno, California is the Raisin Capital of the World.
The California Dancing Raisin was introduced in 1984 by the California Raisin Industry marketing staff to increase awareness and demand for California raisins.
Castroville, California is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. (It is where Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe was crowned Artichoke Queen in 1947)
Los Angeles may be considered a city of freeways, but actually it has the lowest number of freeway miles per capita of any American city or urbanized area. That's why its freeways are so crowded.
There were 1,040 U.S. manufacturing establishments producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments (with 116) followed by Pennsylvania (with 107).
There were 616 U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2001. These establishments employed 26,400 people and shipped $7 billion worth of goods that year. California also led the nation in this category (with 75 establishments).
At the two-day California Strawberry Festival (May) in Oxnard, you can sample strawberries prepared in all sorts of ways. In addition to traditional treats such as strawberry shortcake, strawberry jam, strawberry tarts and strawberries dipped in chocolate, there is strawberry pizza! This dessert pizza is topped with strawberries, sour cream, cream cheese and whipped cream on a sweet bread baked like a pizza. Strawberry kabobs dipped in powdered sugar are another delicacy. And drinks such as a strawberry smoothie can wash it all down.
Strawberries are big business in Oxnard. The annual strawberry revenues are $100 million from Oxnard's bountiful 6,600 berry acres. Twenty-four companies harvest and cool nearly 16 million trays of berries, which are shipped throughout North America as well as to Germany and Japan.
Library of Congress Local Legacies Project
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