Best Specialty Crop
Artichokes
Step right up to the “Artichoke Capital of the World,” where fields of green stretch as far as the eye can see. Castroville loves its artichokes, and for good reason. Fried, pickled, grilled, steamed, there are many ways to enjoy an artichoke – and judging by the numbers, many people are doing just that. According to the 2025 Monterey County Crop Report, artichokes are valued at nearly $34 million, grown across 3,070 acres. That’s a lot of heart, of the vegetable and emotional kinds.