San Mateo farms bounce back with $106.5 million in production, led by booming livestock sales
San Mateo County, California – In 2024, agricultural production in San Mateo County rose by 7.6 percent from the year before, showing that the region’s farming economy was on the mend. The new San Mateo County Agricultural Crop Report said that total production was worth about $106.5 million, which is the most since 2019.
The cattle sector was the main reason for the increase, with a huge 38 percent rise from 2023. Koren Widdel, the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures, said that the growth was caused by both better prices on the market and more animals being sold. She said that the rise was a clear indicator of resilience and flexibility in the county’s broad agricultural base.
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People have known for a long time that San Mateo County’s farms are diverse, growing everything from flowers and vegetables to fruit and animals. The farms range from the coast to the valleys inland. The numbers for 2024 show how local producers have been able to grow and recover even though the economy and the climate have been tough in recent years.
Widdel said that a number of county-supported projects helped make the farming community stronger. As Fresh as It Gets is one of many programs that connects local farmers directly with customers and businesses, encouraging them to buy food that is fresh and grown nearby. Farmers can get Certified Producer Certificates for a modest price. These certificates prove that their goods are grown in the county and let them sell at certified farmers’ markets all around California. The Farm Labor Housing Loan Program also keeps giving money to build secure and affordable housing for farmworkers, which is an important part of keeping farms running.
Ray Mueller, the supervisor whose district includes a lot of the county’s farming, highlighted how important these projects are for both the economy and the community’s sense of identity.
“Agriculture remains an essential part of San Mateo County’s economy, heritage and identity,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller who represents District Three, home to most of the county’s agriculture. “These programs demonstrate the County’s ongoing commitment to local agriculture and the people who make it thrive. The Crop Report also reminds us that local agriculture is about more than production — it’s about people and community.”
The report gave numbers for each category that showed broad development in most areas. Floral and nursery crops brought in the most money, $60.77 million, followed by vegetables, which brought in $27.02 million. Livestock brought in $9.09 million, fruit and nut crops brought in $3.51 million, forest output brought in $1.99 million, and livestock products and apiary items brought in an extra $1.04 million.
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The weather was likewise good in 2024. Rainfall was roughly 25% higher than the 20-year normal, which gave the region’s crops the moisture they required and made them better.
There was also a cultural highlight in the Crop Report: student artwork by tenth grader Soleil Louie. The cover features her fun painting called “Moo-ve Over!” It honors the ethos of local farming and the creativity it brings out.
San Mateo County’s agricultural industry seems like it will keep growing and staying strong in the years to come. It has the highest production value in five years and community support has grown again.
