Strawberries are the top crop in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County released its annual Agricultural Crop Report on Friday and strawberries are once again the county’s top crop, bringing in more than $457 million in 2017.The County Ag Commissioner’s Office reports nearly $1.6 billion in gross production value by agricultural commodities, an increase of more than $163 million from 2016.Strawberries brought in nearly three times as much money as the number two crop, broccoli. Wine grapes are third on the list, followed by nursery products, cauliflower, head lettuce, cut flowers, celery, raspberries, and leaf lettuce.Wine grapes were the top crop in San Luis Obispo County in 2017.Santa Barbara County officials note in their annual report that agricultural losses from natural disasters, such as wildfires, totaled $13.3 million last year.