EDA Office of Foreign Trade • Riverside County, California • USA
August 2012
|
EXPORT
5
commodities, computer and electronic
products and transportation
equipment, Global Trade found.
The magazine attributed some of that
success to the fact that 20 area cities are
located in foreign trade zones, which
provide for “duty-free treatment to
goods processed for foreign trade.” For
example, shoe maker Skechers will save
more than $3 million per year through
the FTZ program, the magazine said.
The county also is drawing attention
for its agricultural exports. Agriculture
plays a significant role in Riverside
County exports, in large part because the
county produces $1 billion-plus worth
of agricultural products each year.
In fact, Riverside County produced
$1.28 billion in total gross valuation of
agricultural products in 2011, according
to the most recent crop report from
the Riverside County Agricultural
Commissioner’s Office. That’s an increase
of $188.6 million, or 17.2 percent,
over the prior year and represents a
new record for Riverside County.
Agriculture represents a direct economic
contribution to the Riverside County
economy of $2.68 billion, and an overall
impact of $4.33 billion, according to the
Ag Commissioner’s report. Agriculture
supports 29,702 jobs in Riverside
County, including 14,700 jobs that are
directly supported by agriculture.
Of the total valuation of agricultural
products, agricultural crops made up
about $990 million of that amount, an
increase of 15.4 percent. Livestock and
poultry production increased nearly
24
percent to about $292 million.
The highest valued crop in the county,
nursery stock, increased in value 18.2
percent to just over $200 million. The
rest of the county’s top five crops,
included milk at $191.8 million, up 32
percent; table grapes at $118.5 million,
up 28 percent; hay at $101 million;
and bell peppers at $85.2 million.
Some of the products that have been
exported most over the years in
Riverside County include citrus, hay,
grapes, vegetables and livestock. More
than 60 countries receive products
from Riverside County. In recent
years, the top consumers of Riverside
County agricultural products have
been Japan (35 percent), China (20
percent), Mexico (13 percent), Canada
(6
percent) and Korea (5 percent).
Riverside County Administration Building
