With a warm climate boasting over 350 days of sunshine, an intricate irrigation system that efficiently delivers Colorado River water at a low cost, nutrient rich and well-drained soils of the Mecca Slope enabling the production of a variety of high value specialty crops—the ±41,000 cultivated acres comprising the agriculture industry in the Coachella Valley was valued at $707 million in 2022, which represented 57% of the $1.2 billion agriculture industry of Riverside County even though it only made up about 40% of the cultivated acreage.
What distinguishes the Coachella Valley from its neighbors—Imperial to the south with around ±480,000 irrigated acres and PVID to the east with a maximum of ±120,500 irrigated acres—are the type of crops grown in each region. Where Blythe and Imperial are prime regions for cultivating field crops, such as Alfalfa and Bermuda, Coachella ground is best for cultivating high value, specialty permanent and row crops year-round.
The Palm and Dale Ranches are in the heart of the Coachella Valley on the fertile Mecca Slope and are serviced by the robust Coachella Valley Water District. Dale Ranch is ±157 acres and is currently planted to row crop while the Palm Ranch is ±78 acres of open cropland. With Class 2 and 3 soils, these farms offer flexibility in cultivable crops whether it be the continuation of annual crops or a transition to permanent crops.
