
Corn waits to be harvested on land leased by Tempe Farming Co., Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Casa Grande, Ariz. The Colorado River has been a go-to source of water for cities, tribes and farmers in the U.S. West for decades. But climate change, drought and increased demand are taking a toll. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to declare the first-ever mandatory cuts from the river for 2022. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

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Most valuable crops grown in Arizona
There are more than 2 million farms in the United States, about 98% of which are operated by families, individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. About 86% of all agricultural products in America are produced on family ranches or farms. A single farm feeds an average of 166 people per year, both in the U.S. and abroad. Even so, farming is a mere sliver of the U.S. economy, representing just 1% of America’s GDP—farm and ranch families make up less than 2% of America’s population.
More African Americans are operating farms now than ever before, likewise for Hispanic and Latino farm operators. One in four farmers are beginning farmers, a term that represents those with fewer than 10 years in agriculture work—their average age is 46. About 11% of U.S. farmers served or are serving in the military.
The U.S. is projected to export a record $191.0 billion agricultural products in 2022. Stacker compiled a list of the most valuable crops grown in Arizona using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture state agriculture overview. Crops are ranked by total annual value of production as of July 16, 2022.
Keep reading to see which crops grown in Arizona are the most valuable.

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#14. Barley
– Annual production: $8.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. Idaho ($229.0 million)
— #2. Montana ($122.3 million)
— #3. North Dakota ($115.1 million)
— #4. Wyoming ($32.5 million)
— #5. Colorado ($25.3 million)

Claudia Harms-Warlies // Shutterstock
#13. Corn
– Annual production: $21.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. Iowa ($13.9 billion)
— #2. Illinois ($11.8 billion)
— #3. Nebraska ($10.0 billion)
— #4. Minnesota ($7.5 billion)
— #5. Indiana ($5.6 billion)

Marco Ossino // Shutterstock
#12. Lemons
– Annual production: $22.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($638.2 million)
— #2. Arizona ($22.6 million)

Canva
#11. Wheat
– Annual production: $36.7 million
– Top states:
— #1. Kansas ($2.4 billion)
— #2. North Dakota ($1.8 billion)
— #3. Montana ($832.3 million)
— #4. Washington ($739.6 million)
— #5. Oklahoma ($736.3 million)

AePatt Journey // Shutterstock
#10. Cabbage
– Annual production: $56.1 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($155.2 million)
— #2. New York ($76.3 million)
— #3. Arizona ($56.1 million)
— #4. Florida ($45.3 million)
— #5. Texas ($44.2 million)

Nadya So // Shutterstock
#9. Cauliflower
– Annual production: $76.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($265.9 million)
— #2. Arizona ($76.9 million)

Deyan Georgiev // Shutterstock
#8. Broccoli
– Annual production: $87.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($631.5 million)
— #2. Arizona ($87.5 million)

eleonimages // Shutterstock
#7. Melons
– Annual production: $91.9 million
– Top states:
— #1. Florida ($192.4 million)
— #2. California ($162.9 million)
— #3. Georgia ($103.7 million)
— #4. Arizona ($91.9 million)
— #5. Texas ($54.3 million)

Shaina Kaytlin // Shutterstock
#6. Pecans
– Annual production: $92.8 million
– Top states:
— #1. New Mexico ($188.9 million)
— #2. Georgia ($182.5 million)
— #3. Arizona ($92.8 million)
— #4. Texas ($69.2 million)
— #5. Oklahoma ($17.5 million)

Valery Kraynov // Shutterstock
#5. Dates
– Annual production: $93.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($135.6 million)
— #2. Arizona ($93.0 million)

ShadowBird // Shutterstock
#4. Cotton
– Annual production: $101.5 million
– Top states:
— #1. Texas ($3.2 billion)
— #2. Georgia ($937.4 million)
— #3. Arkansas ($442.8 million)
— #4. Mississippi ($344.9 million)
— #5. North Carolina ($339.3 million)

FS Stock // Shutterstock
#3. Spinach
– Annual production: $113.6 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($358.8 million)
— #2. Arizona ($113.6 million)
— #3. New Jersey ($14.2 million)
— #4. Texas ($9.6 million)

David A. Litman // Shutterstock
#2. Lettuce
– Annual production: $291.0 million
– Top states:
— #1. California ($768.5 million)
— #2. Arizona ($291.0 million)

Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock
#1. Hay & haylage
– Annual production: $494.4 million
– Top states:
— #1. Texas ($1.7 billion)
— #2. Wisconsin ($1.3 billion)
— #3. California ($1.2 billion)
— #4. Idaho ($1.1 billion)
— #5. Colorado ($1.0 billion)

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