BOOMING: Orange County agriculture is producing more...

BOOMING: Orange County agriculture is producing more money than ever before, even though cultivated acreage fell by about 2% during the year, according to 1991 crop reports. . . . The reasons? Overseas marketing, frost in competing areas, higher yields per acre and continued emphasis on high-priced crops. . . . Thus, in 1991 Valencia orange production saw a 32% drop, but there were 18% more strawberries and a whopping 388% more avocados grown locally.

Top Cash Crops

The county’s total crop value in 1991 was $296.7 million, 16% more than 1990 and the largest ever. The principal crops (In millions of dollars): Nursery stock, cut flowers: $141.6 Strawberries: $44.0 Valencia oranges: $24.1 Avocados: $22.5 Tomatoes: $15.3 Source: Orange County Agricultural Commissioner