Agriculture in California
ZIP codes in our California data
USDA hardiness zones present
California is the top agricultural state in the country by farm value, producing a larger share of the nation's fruits, nuts, and vegetables than any other state. Its long growing season and diverse geography let growers raise crops that are hard to produce anywhere else in the United States, which makes it a key reference point for both commercial farmers and home gardeners.
Farming in California
Much of California's crop production is concentrated in the Central Valley, a long inland basin stretching from the Sacramento Valley in the north to the San Joaquin Valley in the south, supported by extensive irrigation. The state is a leading producer of almonds, pistachios, walnuts, wine and table grapes, strawberries, lettuce, processing tomatoes, and citrus, along with dairy, which is among its most valuable single commodities. Cattle and calves are also a major part of the farm economy, and coastal valleys such as Salinas are known for cool-season vegetables. Farming ranges from large irrigated operations in the interior to smaller specialty and organic growers along the coast and in the foothills.
Climate and growing conditions
California has a Mediterranean climate over much of the state, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, though deserts, high mountains, and cool coastal zones create wide local variation. The frost-free growing season is long in the Central Valley and southern and coastal areas, and much shorter at higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada. USDA hardiness zones run roughly from zone 5 in the coldest mountain areas to zones 10 and 11 along the south coast and in low desert regions, so a gardener's conditions depend heavily on location.
Major agricultural products
- Dairy products
- Grapes (wine, table, and raisin)
- Almonds
- Cattle and calves
- Lettuce and leafy greens
- Strawberries
- Processing tomatoes
- Pistachios and walnuts
Hardiness zones in California
Growers in California fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in California
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in California
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (62 counties):
Market prices & data for California
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.