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Nursery crops retained their top spot in Santa Clara County in 2023, according to Santa Clara County\'s latest Crop Report, with mushrooms clinging to the No. 2 spot despite a drop in crop value of almost 8% from 2022 due to the closure of one mushroom farm, according to county officials.

Overall, the value of Santa Clara County\'s agricultural products rose 3.5%, bringing their total value to $371.5 million, says the annual crop report. Nursery crops increased their value by 11% to nearly $128 million.

It was also a good year for leafy greens as the return to pre-pandemic restaurant dining created a big demand for lettuce. While lettuce 2023 remained the county\'s No. 3 crop, its value increased by 68% to more than $34.5 million in production value, says the county crop report.

Weather can play a big part in a crop\'s successful yield, as was the case with the 2023 cherry harvest. Hindered by heavy springtime rain, cherries dropped in value by 41.5% to $4.35 million.

Read more at Gilroy Dispatch