THE WELFARE EFFECTS OF CONSUMING A CANCER PREVENTION DIET

Within California, 26 percent of farm receipts are from vegetable production and 29
percent of farm receipts from fruit and nuts (Kuminoff et al., 2000).

California accounts for over 99 percent of national production of artichokes,
Brussel sprouts, dates, figs, kiwi, clingstone peaches, persimmons, prunes, and raisins.
It accounts for at least 50% of U.S. production of table grapes, wine grapes, lettuce
(head, leaf and romaine), strawberries, broccoli, plums, celery, carrots, avocados, fresh
market oranges, cauliflower, honeydew, cantaloupes, and processing tomatoes. While
it produces less than 50 percent of the US production of spinach and asparagus,
California is still the largest producer of these items.

The shift in demand toward more fruits and vegetables would be met through
increases in imports from other regions, including the rest of the US, a reduction in
California exports to the domestic market, and increased production from within
California. The ability of California growers to increase production depends on the
resources, such as land, labor and other purchased inputs, at their disposal. O’Brien
was the first to address the issue of resource availability (1997). Other researchers have
discussed the potential for supply increases from trade, acreage adjustments, and other
purchased inputs (Abbott 1999; Young and Kantor 1999).

California has over 27.7 million acres devoted to agricultural production (USDA
1999a). Harvested cropland accounts for 8.5 million acres, with 3.5 million acres used
for fruits and vegetables. Labor and other input costs to produce commodities on that
acreage account for over half of all farm expenses. Total farm expenses were $16.8
billion in 1997 (USDA 1999a). Hired labor was the single largest category at $3.4 billion.

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