A Soil as Good as It Gets
Deep in California, between the Tehachapi Mountains and the Cascade Range, lies one of the most fertile regions in America. It’s 250 various crops are estimated at a value of $17 billion per year, it supplies 8% of U.S. agricultural output, and nearly 20% of America’s groundwater is pumped right into its aquifers. It produces everything from cotton, tomatoes, and hay to citrus, tree fruits, vegetables, and wine grapes. It is one of the most notable structural depressions in the world and its name is the Central Valley.
What makes Central Valley soil so Fertile?
The Central Valley of California is formed by two smaller valley’s known as the San Joaquin Valley in the South and the Sacramento Valley in the North. Also known as, “San Joaquin” soil, Central Valley soil is defined as a Class 1 soil, meaning that it has the least limitations of all other soils. This lack of limitations allows for wider use than other soils, meaning more plentiful crop yields. For San Joaquin soil, climate and temperature are vital components in regards to its fertility. These yields are supported by the more than ideal temperature, which experiences a 25-degree temperature swing from day into night. The Valley is also supported by cool winters and summer heat, offering a wide variety of growing options for farmers both big and small during seasonal changes.
Location is Everything
While temperature and climate are massive contributing factors to the fertility of San Joaquin, it’s really the placement of the Valley that contributes the most to its large crop yields. And when it comes to placement, it doesn’t get any more idealistic than Central Valley. The two smaller valleys that makeup Central Valley meet in the Delta area, which is constructed by the runoff of the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. The Delta Area’s 1,100 miles of rivers offer a major source of freshwater, benefitting many of the region’s agricultural developments. San Joaquin soil is central to America’s agricultural output. The ingredients that not only make up the very meals we eat but the natural and holistic lives that we choose to live are no doubt thanks to Central Valley. So it’s no wonder that just 35 miles south of Central Valley, the offices of Verda Hemp are working hard to provide a better future for natural medicine and holistic life through education, training, farm consulting, and land preparation.